energy efficiency
In Search of Emissionality
by Laura Zapata and Laura Corso
The world of corporate sustainability has commonly used the biggest and boldest terms to demonstrate commitment to climate action: Net zero, carbon negative, carbon neutral. How do we know that these climate pledges are more than just buzzwords? How can companies invest in climate solutions that will have lasting impacts beyond the shine of a press release? The task may seem daunting, but it is a great opportunity to apply the latest science and innovative technology to show tangible results in climate action. Companies and organizations can reduce the carbon impact of the products and services they provide by reassessing source materials, reconfiguring supply chains, and creating thoughtful end-of-life options for products outside of a landfill. Yet even significant efforts to mitigate climate impacts can leave a final carbon footprint. In order to truly achieve a net-zero goal, companies must reclaim that final carbon footprint by investing in a positive climate action that will have lasting impacts for generations to come. That climate action must be verifiable and accountable, so that consumers, investors, and the public at large know it’s legit. It’s in this realm of carbon offsetting where the industry has faced some hiccups. In the past, companies had limited options available to offset or reclaim their carbon footprint. Many carbon offsetting options have been outside the United States, making projects more difficult to track. Further, efforts such as reforestation have been found to overpromise and underdeliver, and in the worst cases, have caused local communities more harm than good. By investing in utility-scale renewable power here in the U.S., company executives have the assurance that they can visit their projects and ‘kick the tires.’ They can accelerate the greening of the electric grid, providing cascading benefits to local communities. And now, thanks to a recent partnership1,
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companies can rely on the latest AI-powered insights and emissions research to track and verify the real-time impact of new renewable projects on the grid. This tech partnership builds on the concept of “emissionality.” Building new renewable projects in regions with disproportionately dirty grid regions that are oversaturated with fossil fuels achieves greater avoided emissions. Ensuring that new projects directly replace fossil fuels like coal and natural gas effectively clears carbon from the grid for the next 40 years, or the lifetime of a utility-scale project. Companies can access unparalleled insights into how much carbon emissions those renewable projects accrue over time, allowing insights well beyond the initial transaction. For example, Boston University used emissionality analysis to invest in a wind farm in South Dakota2, which will more than double their carbon emissions reduction impact based on location.
