Confused about GHG Carbon Calculations
Confused about GHG Carbon Calculationsโ๐คทโโ๏ธ Most professionals know Scope 1 and Scope 2 but many still get the actual calculation wrong.
The easiest way to understand them is to separate direct emissions from purchased energy emissions.
Scope 1 = Direct emissions
These come from sources owned or controlled by the organization:
โข Stationary combustion โ boilers, furnaces, generators
โข Mobile combustion โ company vehicles
โข Fugitive emissions โ refrigerant leaks
โ The basic calculation is:
Emissions (tCOโe) = Activity Data ร Emission Factor ร GWP / 1,000
For example, if a boiler consumes 10,000 L of diesel at 2.68 kg COโe/L:
10,000 ร 2.68 / 1,000 = 26.80 tCOโe
โ Scope 2 = Indirect emissions from purchased energy
This primarily covers emissions associated with purchased:
Electricity
Steam
Heating
Cooling
โ For purchased electricity:
Emissions (tCOโe) = Energy Consumed ร Emission Factor / 1,000
Example:
500,000 kWh ร 0.82 kg COโe/kWh รท 1,000
= 410 tCOโe
A few practical points matter when preparing a corporate GHG inventory:
โ Use activity data that can be traced to reliable records.
โ Select emission factors from credible and current sources.
โ Apply the appropriate GWP values for the relevant gases.
โ Don’t overlook fugitive emissions such as refrigerant leakage.
โ Report emissions consistently in metric tonnes of COโ equivalent (tCOโe).
Understanding the formula is simple.
The real challenge is choosing the right activity data, emission factor, boundary, and calculation methodology.
โ For practical sustainability and ESG, Carbon footprint, and LCA masterclass courses: visit: 365sustainability.com
โข Follow Vishal Pagar for more content
