Molly Ayala
Emission factors are used to determine the baseline emissions for projects in the renewable energy sector. A grid emission factor refers to a CO2 emission factor (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes annual CO2 emissions and average annual CO2 emissions factors related to total electricity generation by the electric power industry in the United States. The EIA also provides state-level data on electricity-related CO2 emissions and electricity generation by type of electricity producer and fuel/energy source. Marginal emission factors are used to estimate the emission impacts of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs on the electricity grid. Scope 2 electricity emission factors (kg CO2-e/kWh) have been updated to reflect changes in regulations and to include new fuel types.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A "grid emission factor" refers to a CO2 emission factor (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system. |
| Purpose | To determine the baseline emissions for CDM projects in the renewable energy sector (hydro, wind, solar PV, geothermal power, etc.) and waste heat/gas recovery sector. |
| Types | 1. CDM-based grid emission factors, calculated and utilized by each registered CDM project. 2. Scope 2 electricity emission factors (kg CO2-e/kWh). |
| Calculation | The EPA provides a Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator to convert greenhouse gas emission numbers into different equivalent units, such as estimating carbon dioxide emissions avoided per wind turbine installed. |
| Updates | The Clean Energy Regulator of Australia has introduced updates to scope 2 electricity emission factors for the 2023-24 period, including amendments for multi-site cement production facilities and new fuel types for end-of-life tires. |
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What You'll Learn
Grid emission factors refer to CO2 emission factors (tCO2/MWh)
A grid emission factor is a CO2 emission factor (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system. The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) has created a list of grid emission factors that provides information for research and analysis regarding emissions from electricity generation. This database offers two types of grid emission factors:
- CDM-based grid emission factors: These are calculated and used by individual CDM projects. The data is sourced from the UNFCCC website and the IGES CDM Project Database, which offers insights into specific project activities.
- Non-CDM-based grid emission factors: These are calculated using a bottom-up approach, considering factors like fuel consumption, generation mix, and electricity output.
Grid emission factors are essential for determining the baseline emissions for CDM projects in the renewable energy sector, including hydro, wind, solar PV, and geothermal power, as well as the waste heat/gas recovery sector. They are also used to calculate the emission impacts of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) programs on the electricity grid. By estimating the amount of fossil-fired generation and emissions displaced by EE and RE, a marginal emission factor can be applied to assess the overall impact on the grid.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) in the United States publishes annual CO2 emissions and average annual CO2 emissions factors related to total electricity generation by the electric power industry. These factors are expressed in pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour (MWh) and can be converted to pounds per kilowatt-hour (kWh) by division by 1,000. The EIA also provides state-level data on electricity-related CO2 emissions, generation by fuel/energy source, and producer.
Additionally, the US EPA provides a Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, which helps users understand the equivalencies for emissions avoided due to energy efficiency (EE) or renewable energy (RE) programs. This calculator uses marginal emission factors to determine which fossil-fired units are being displaced by EE/RE initiatives. The calculator considers both regional and national marginal emission factors to provide accurate estimations.
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Marginal emission factors are used to estimate fossil-fired units
Marginal emission factors (MEFs) are used to estimate the change in emissions from marginal generation, i.e. the electricity generation that increases or decreases to meet a change in demand. MEFs are a metric that estimates the CO2 intensity of a demand change, and they are a function of the specific CO2 intensity of the individual generators that respond to that change.
MEFs are particularly useful for estimating which fossil-fired units are being displaced by energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) programs. EE and RE programs are not generally assumed to affect baseload power plants that run all the time, but rather marginal power plants that are brought online as necessary to meet demand. Therefore, when calculating the emission impacts of EE and RE on the electricity grid, a marginal emission factor is the best representation to estimate which fossil-fired units are being displaced across the fossil fleet.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) defines emission factors (EFs) as "a representative value that attempts to relate the quantity of a pollutant released into the atmosphere with an activity associated with the release of that pollutant." EFs are expressed as the mass of a gas per unit of the emissions-producing activity or material input, such as kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted per tonne of bituminous coal combusted. To estimate emissions, an EF is multiplied by the corresponding activity data, such as the energy contained in a mass of fuel combusted or the amount of electricity consumed.
The Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) provides either a regionally specific or national marginal emission factor for the Equivalencies Calculator, depending on the user input. This results in more accurate emissions estimates regarding their energy use.
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Scope 2 electricity emission factors (kg CO2-e/kWh)
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. They are accounted for in an organization's GHG inventory because they are a result of the organization's energy use.
A location-based emission factor, expressed as kg CO2e/kWh, is calculated as emissions (CO2e) from the generation of electricity supplied to the grid (including on-grid generation, imports, and exports) divided by the energy generated (kWh). It uses grid-average emissions data (based on fuels burned) and electricity output aggregated and averaged within a defined geographic boundary, typically a country, and during a defined time period, usually a year.
The location-based emission factor does not vary between electricity suppliers, but there are three types available, and reporting organizations should use the most specific factor. Most electricity consumers purchase energy through a grid that supplies part of a country (subnational), the whole country (national), or several countries (multi-national). Each grid may import and export to other grids.
To calculate Scope 2 electricity emissions, you must first multiply your total electricity consumption value by each electricity emissions factor to obtain a value in kg for each relevant greenhouse gas. Then, multiply the non-CO2 values by their Global Warming Potentials (GWP) to express them as CO2e. Finally, add all the values together to get the total electricity emissions value as a carbon dioxide equivalent for that specific location.
Software solutions are available that automate these calculations and provide robust insights to help organizations make more sustainable decisions.
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CDM-based grid emission factors
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) provides a list of grid emission factors, which are CO2 emission factors (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system. Grid emission factors are used to determine the baseline emissions for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the renewable energy sector (such as hydro, wind, solar PV, and geothermal power) and the waste heat/gas recovery sector.
The rules to calculate grid emission factors have changed considerably over time, especially since late 2007 when the UNFCCC secretariat introduced a tool to calculate the emission factor for an electricity system. This tool defines the data requirements to establish the efficiency of power plants and their fuel use to calculate the "build margin". The grid EF calculation is based on the combined margin approach, which takes into account the displacement of power in the grid generated by power plants operating on the margin ("operating margin") and the delay of future power generation capacity additions to the grid ("build margin").
For the CDM, electricity grid emission factors (grid EFs) directly determine the volume of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) for all project types related to renewable electricity generation or the reduction of electricity consumption. The higher the grid EF, the higher the number of CERs a project can generate. Designated National Authorities (DNAs) have started to provide grid EFs to reduce the time to search for data and increase the attractiveness of their respective host countries.
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$127.48
Calculating carbon dioxide produced per kilowatthour
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes annual CO2 emissions and average annual CO2 emissions factors related to total electricity generation by the electric power industry in the United States. The factors are in pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour (MWh). To convert the factor to pounds per kilowatthour (kWh), divide the factor by 1,000.
The Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can be used to convert emissions or energy data to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from using that amount. The calculator helps translate abstract measurements into concrete terms, such as the annual emissions from cars, households, or power plants. For instance, the calculator can be used to determine the annual greenhouse gas emissions per all-electric passenger vehicle. The following methodology is used:
- VMT is divided by the average miles per kWh to determine kWh consumed per vehicle per year.
- KWh consumed is converted to MWh consumed by multiplying the ratio of MWh to kWh.
- Electricity consumed is multiplied by pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per MWh to determine carbon dioxide equivalent emitted per vehicle per year.
- Carbon dioxide emissions are then converted from pounds to metric tons by multiplying by the ratio of metric tons to pounds.
Another example of using the calculator is to determine carbon dioxide emissions avoided per year per wind turbine installed. The average electricity generated per wind turbine in a year is multiplied by the annual wind national marginal emission rate. The EPA 2024 wind national marginal emission rate is 6.03 x 10-4.
A "grid emission factor" refers to a CO2 emission factor (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system. It is a parameter to determine the baseline emissions for CDM projects in the renewable energy sector (hydro, wind, solar PV, and geothermal power, etc.) and waste heat/gas recovery sector.
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Frequently asked questions
A grid emission factor refers to a CO2 emission factor (tCO2/MWh) associated with each unit of electricity provided by an electricity system.
There are two types of grid emission factors: CDM-based grid emission factors, which are calculated and used by each registered CDM project, and location-based scope 2 electricity emission factors.
The emission factor for electricity in the United States is given in pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour (MWh). The EIA publishes annual CO2 emissions and average annual CO2 emissions factors related to total electricity generation by the electric power industry in the United States.
