Grid Emissions Factor
A grid emissions factor represents the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted per megawatt hour of electricity consumed in a specific region or time interval. Corporations, regulators, and energy traders use these factors to calculate Scope 2 emissions, assess carbon intensity contracts, and design 24-7 clean energy procurement strategies.
Factors can be annual averages, marginal emissions rates, or highly granular hourly datasets derived from dispatch modeling and fuel mix telemetry. Marginal factors indicate the emission impact of incremental load or reduced consumption, guiding demand response, VPP, and electrolyzer operations.
Regulators and NGOs publish emissions datasets that align with carbon accounting protocols, while some TSOs provide APIs that stream near-real-time carbon intensity. Accurate factors are crucial for compliance with emerging disclosure rules and for validating carbon-free energy claims.
Developers integrate emissions factors into storage dispatch, PPA marketing, and carbon offset strategies. Investors review factor methodologies to ensure reported decarbonization impacts are defensible.
Technical Details
- •Expressed in kg CO2e per MWh and derived from generation mix and fuel data
- •Can be average, marginal, or real-time depending on methodology
- •Used in Scope 2 accounting, carbon contracts, and clean energy claims
- •Requires alignment with protocols such as GHG Protocol and ENTSO-E data
- •May be provided via APIs for automated reporting
Why It Matters
Emissions factors underpin credible carbon accounting and 24-7 procurement metrics. Tera aggregates regional factors, methodologies, and data sources so clients can align energy strategies with evolving disclosure requirements.
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