Electricity

SIEC section 7 (not further disaggregated into divisions, groups or classes below the section level). One of the ten top-level sections of the Standard International Energy Product Classification (SIEC); see that page for the classification’s scope rules, coding system and full Table 3.1 code list. Electricity and heat are treated differently from the fuel sections: SIEC does not further disaggregate either, because — unlike fuels — neither is a physical substance distinguishable by origin, composition or intended purpose [IRES, Ch. III, para. 3.15, PDF p. 36, 2018].

7 / 70 / 700 / 7000 Electricity

The transfer of energy through the physical phenomena involving electric charges and their effects when at rest and in motion [IRES, Ch. III, SIEC 7000, PDF p. 52, 2018].

Remark: Electricity can be generated through different processes, such as the conversion of energy contained in falling or streaming water, wind or waves; the direct conversion of solar radiation through photovoltaic processes in semiconductor devices (solar cells); or the combustion of fuels [IRES, Ch. III, SIEC 7000, PDF p. 52, 2018].

Because SIEC does not disaggregate electricity by production process, the distinction between generation methods (hydro, wind, solar, thermal, …) is instead captured on the production side of energy statistics, in Chapter V [IRES, Ch. III, para. 3.15, PDF p. 36, 2018] — see Electricity and Heat Production for the full producer-type, plant-type and generation-source typology.

Chapter VI’s reference list of data items defines gross vs. net electricity production and a computed “own use” item (the gap between them), plus net maximum electrical capacity and peak-load-related capacity data items — see Data Items on Energy Flows and Stocks and Production, Storage and Transmission Capacity [IRES, Ch. VI, paras 6.55–6.61, 6.69–6.72, PDF pp. 94, 95–96, 2018].

Related

• SIEC Classification System — SIEC’s scope rules, coding system and full Table 3.1 code list, of which this section is one entry; also covers why electricity and heat are not disaggregated
• Energy Products — the general energy-product definition and SIEC scope-precision rules this classification operationalizes
• Waste — the preceding SIEC section; waste incineration with heat recovery is one route into electricity generation
• Heat — the next SIEC section, treated identically to electricity for classification purposes (not disaggregated by production process)
• Electricity and Heat Production — producer types, plant types and generation-source definitions (IRES Ch. V)
• Data Items on Energy Flows and Stocks — the gross/net production and own-use data items
• Production, Storage and Transmission Capacity — the electrical capacity and peak-load data items