Electricity Maps emission factors methodology

This report contains a comparison and validation of the Electricity Maps emission factors dataset against the IEA Emission Factors.

A comparison of the Electricity Maps’ methodology for emission factors to the IEA methodology showed that Electricity Maps’ methodology is more accurate when it comes to accounting for electricity trade, upstream emission factors, as well as time and spatial granularity.

Because it uses hourly data and applies a flow-tracing method, Electricity Maps can capture electricity flows and trades (and underlying emissions) much more accurately than the IEA does with annual numbers. Additionally, by moving to regional emission factors for the EU and theUS in 2022, Electricity Maps has not only increased the accuracy of its emission factors withhigher spatial granularity but also with higher update frequency and more up-to-date data. 

Download the report to learn more about Electricity Maps methodology for emission factors.