Scope 2 GHG Emissions

Definition

Scope 2 GHG Emissions. Indirect GHG Emissions from the generation of purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heating, or cooling consumed by the reporting company or other entity. Scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where electricity is generated.

Context

Scope 2 emissions represent one of the largest sources of GHG emissions globally and frequently the most significant opportunity to reduce these emissions.

The generation of electricity and heat now accounts for at least a third of global GHG emissions. Electricity consumers have significant opportunities to reduce those emissions by reducing electricity demand, and increasingly play a role in shifting energy supply to alternative low-carbon resources (See Sustainable Electricity)

• Scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where the electricity, steam, heating, or cooling is generated.
• Scope 2 GHG emissions will primarily be calculated from metered electricity consumption and supplier-specific, local grid, or other published emission factors.

Calculation Approach

Scope 2 GHG emissions will primarily be calculated from metered electricity consumption and supplier-specific, local grid, or other published emission factors. The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard recommends that entities obtain source/supplier specific emission factors for the electricity purchased. If these are not available, regional or grid emission factors should be used.

There are two types of electricity emission factors: Emission factor at generation (EFG) and Emissions factor at consumption (EFC).

• EFG is calculated from CO2 emissions from generation of electricity divided by amount of electricity generated.
• EFC is calculated from CO 2 emissions from generation divided by amount of electricity consumed.

Emissions from Transmission and Distribution Losses

Emissions from the generation of purchased electricity that is consumed during transmission and distribution are reported in scope 2 by the company that owns or controls the Transmission and Distribution (TD) operation. End consumers of the purchased electricity do not report indirect emissions associated with TD losses in scope 2 because they do not own or control the TD operation where the electricity is consumed (TD loss).

Specific Protocols

Corporate Protocol

To calculate scope 2 emissions, the Corporate Standard recommends multiplying activity data (MWhs of electricity consumption) by source and supplier-specific emission factors to arrive at the total GHG emissions impact of electricity use. Concrete methods:

• Market-Based Scope 2 Accounting
• Location-Based Scope 2 Accounting

City Protocol

GHG emissions occurring as a consequence of the use of grid-supplied electricity, heat, steam and/or cooling within the city boundary.

See Also

• GHG Emissions Scope
• Scope 1 GHG Emissions
• Scope 3 GHG Emissions