Why Log Supplier-Specific Electricity Supplies?
Logging your own electricity supplies helps ensure your carbon footprint report accurately reflects the electricity use specific to your company.
Purchased energy-related emissions are part of Scope 2 emissions, which cover the indirect emissions from the electricity your company purchases and consumes.
If you don’t provide your own data, we use average values for your region (called location-based emission factors). While this is an acceptable fallback, providing supplier specific emission factors to perform a market based calculation can make your report more precise and show the real impact of your efforts to choose cleaner energy sources.
Market-Based vs. Location-Based Approach
Let’s break down the two types of emission factors:
Market-based: calculations take into consideration the specific provider you use. For example, if your company buys electricity from a renewable energy provider, the emissions from that electricity will likely be lower than the regional average. Market-based factors allow us to reflect this lower impact.
Location-based: represent the average emissions from electricity in your area. For example, in the UK, the location-based grid emissions factor reflects the mix of coal, gas, renewables, and other energy sources used nationally.
Both factors are important, but providing verified market-based data helps your report stand out as more specific and accurate.
Where to Find Emission Factor Data
You’ll need to request this information from your electricity supplier.
Reach out to your electricity provider’s customer service or sustainability team. Ask for the greenhouse gas emissions factor (kgCO₂e/kWh) associated with your electricity supply.
Request official certificates or documentation, such as:
Guarantees of Origin (GOs) in Europe.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in the United States.
Any supplier-specific emissions reports or certifications.
Review your energy contracts or invoices. These documents sometimes include emissions details or reference where to obtain them.
Some providers publish emissions data or reports directly on their websites. Look for sustainability or emissions reporting sections.
If you cannot obtain market-based data, the platform will automatically use location-based approach to ensure your report is still complete.
Once you've obtained energy certificates from your suppliers, we recommend that you also verify with your supplier whether these have been third party verified.
How to Add a Supplier-Specific Electricity Supply
Go to the Sites tab in your account and select the Electricity Supplies section.
Add supply:
Click the Add Supply button, and fill in the below fields:
Name: name of your electricity supplier (e.g. "Green Co.").
Country: location of your supplier.
Valid From/Until: specify the time period the emission factor applies to.
Emission Factor: enter the verified emission factor (e.g. 0.20 kgCO₂e/kWh).
Verify quality criteria (see below):
Check the box confirming the EF meets all required quality criteria.
Click Create Supply to log your electricity details.
Quality Criteria for Emission Factors
To use market-based emission factors, ensure they meet the following requirements:
The EF must be provided in an official document showing the greenhouse gas emissions factor per unit of electricity produced.
This document must be the sole record of the EF and not duplicated elsewhere.
Certificates must be tracked, redeemed, retired, or canceled by or on behalf of your company.
The document should align as closely as possible with the period of energy consumption.
The EF must come from the same market as the location of your company’s operations.
On-Site Generation:
If energy is generated on-site, emission claims must be exclusive to your organisation.
Any on-site energy must have its own emission factor and not claim certificates from utility companies.
If supplier-specific EFs are unavailable, My Emissions will default to the location-based grid emissions factor, representing the average emissions for the location.
Why Are Quality Criteria Important?
Emission factors must meet stringent quality standards to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with reporting frameworks like the GHG Protocol. Incorrect or unverifiable data can undermine your report’s credibility and its acceptance by stakeholders.
Need Help?
If you have questions about adding electricity supplies or verifying emission factors, please consult your account team.