Getting Started

Introduction

Welcome to the Electricity Maps API! You can use the API to get access to information about:

  • Where the electricity in a specific area comes from
  • How much CO2 was emitted to produce it

Furthermore, you can use this API to get historical data, live data and forecasts.

Geolocation

Getting data for a specific area can be done in multiple ways:

  1. Use the zone parameter
  2. Use coordinates with lon and lat parameters
  3. Use a look-up by data center, with the dataCenterProvider and dataCenterRegion parameters

Find the zone-key by calling /v3/zones with your auth-token as header and you can see details about the zones you have access to

Find available data centers by calling /v3/data-centers

Auto fallback: If no zone is detected (or we don't have data for that area), the API will attempt to use your current location based on IP of the caller. This can be actively disabled by setting the shouldUseFallbackCallerLookup query parameter to false

Authorization

All requests to the API (except for /zones) must be authorized.

The API key should be included as a header on the request: auth-token: my-api-token.

Example with cURL:

curl 'https://api.electricitymap.org/v3/carbon-intensity/latest?zone=DE'
  -H 'auth-token: my-api-token'

It is also possible to use Basic Auth if preferred:

# The base64 encoded string should be "my-email:my-api-token"
Authorization: Basic <Base64 encoded email and api key>

You can find your API key on the dashboard when signed in, or sign up to get started for free.

Free Tier

For the free plan, the following endpoints are available:

  • /v3/carbon-intensity/latest
  • /v3/carbon-intensity/history
  • /v3/power-breakdown/latest
  • /v3/power-breakdown/history

The history endpoints only return data for the last 24 hours, while the past and past-range endpoints available on the Commercial plan goes years back and allows customizing the range as needed.

Estimations

All endpoints return estimated data by default for timestamps when measured data is not available.

The isEstimated flag in the the returned JSON indicates whether the result is estimated or not, and the estimationMethod field indicates what model was used to generate that estimate. Documentation about estimation models can be found here.

To disable estimations in the returned JSON, the disableEstimations parameter can be set to true.

Granularity

All endpoints return data with a temporal granularity of 1 hour.

Each entry represents data for the following hour from the timestamp. For example, data timestamped at 10:00 AM covers the period from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Aggregation Period

The past and past-range endpoints are available with different granularities for both carbon-intensity and power-breakdown. To aggregate data at a different time granularity, you can use the aggregationPeriod parameter. The default value is 'hourly', and supported values are 'daily', 'weekly', 'monthly', 'quarterly', and 'yearly'.

Aggregated data is returned in gCO2eq/kWh for the carbon intensity, and in MWh for the power breakdown.

Emission Factors

For the carbon-intensity endpoints you can specify the type of emissionFactors to use. To use this, include a emissionFactorType=??? parameter in your request.

There can be two types of emission factors for a source:

  • Direct emission factors (the direct parameter): These are the operational emissions and exclude e.g. construction and decommissioning.
  • Lifecycle emission factors (the lifecycle parameter): These include operational as well as infrastructural emissions from the whole life cycle, including e.g. construction of the power plant and decommissioning.

The supported parameters are direct and lifecycle. The default parameter is lifecycle.

The emission factors used can be viewed here.

Glossary

  • Carbon Intensity: Describes the emissions related to using electricity from the grid, measured in gCO2e/kWh.

  • Carbon-Free Energy Percentage (CFE%): The percentage of electricity available on a grid from low or zero carbon emission sources. This excludes fossil fuels and includes solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and nuclear energy. In the API, this is currently called "fossilFreePercentage."

  • Day-ahead Price: Corresponds to prices from the day-ahead market. Our API offers a forecast of these day-ahead market prices.

  • Electricity Flows: Represents electricity transmitted between two zones. In the API, this relates to the fields "powerImportBreakdown," "powerExportBreakdown," "powerImportTotal," and "powerExportTotal."

  • Electricity Load: The Total electricity made available by a grid. In the API, this is currently called "powerConsumptionTotal."

  • Electricity Mix: A breakdown of electricity by technology (wind, coal, solar, etc.). In the API, the flow-traced version is called "powerConsumptionBreakdown," and the production-based version is called "powerProductionBreakdown."

  • Electricity Production: In the API, the total is called "powerProductionTotal." The breakdown by technology is within "powerProductionBreakdown."

  • Emission Factor by Technology: In the API, these factors are not directly present but are used conceptually with the keys/values within "powerProductionBreakdown" and "powerConsumptionBreakdown" (e.g., nuclear, wind, coal) to calculate carbon intensity.

  • Estimation Models: In the API, this status is indicated by the "isEstimated" and "estimationMethod" fields.

  • Flow-traced: In the API, this concept describes how fields like "powerConsumptionBreakdown," "powerConsumptionTotal," "fossilFreePercentage," and "renewablePercentage" are derived, accounting for flows.

  • Granularity:

    • Temporal Granularity: In the API, this is implied by the timestamp format and frequency of data points associated with the "datetime" field.

    • Spatial Granularity: In the API, this is represented by the "zone" field. Both a combined Sweden (SE) and sub-zones of Sweden (SE-SE1, SE-SE2, SE-SE3, and SE-SE4) are available.

  • Renewable Energy Percentage (RE%): The percentage of electricity consumed from renewable sources. This includes biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar and wind energy. In the API, this is currently called "renewablePercentage."

  • Signal: In the API, the entire JSON object represents one signal in the case of the Carbon intensity endpoint or a collection of signals in the case of Power breakdown; individual fields like "renewablePercentage," "fossilFreePercentage," or the contents of "powerConsumptionBreakdown" are specific signals.

  • Temporality: Used to describe the distinction between historical, real-time, and forecasted data. In the API, we have "past," "latest," and "forecast" endpoints.

Geographical Coverage

The Zones Overview Table lists all zones available in the App, API and datasets.

The following signals are available for all zones

  • Carbon Intensity - Historical, Real-time & 72h forecast
  • Electricity Mix - Historical, Real-time & 72h forecast
  • Carbon-free Energy Percentage - Historical, Real-time & 72h forecast
  • Renewable Energy Percentage - Historical, Real-time & 72h forecast

Only for zones indicated as such, we have day-ahead price data available, including historical, real-time, and 72-hour forecast.

Historical data is available for all geographical regions since at least 2021.

All zones (except aggregated zones) are assigned a tier, based on the specifications of primary data available.

  • Tier A zones have measured hourly data available from the original data source for the full electricity mix. Any potential gaps are filled using Time Slicer Average (TSA).
  • Tier B zones have partial measured hourly data available from the original data source. Missing information, such as the production mode breakdown, are estimated using zone-specific estimation models.
  • Tier C zones do not have measured hourly source data available, but monthly or yearly totals. Hourly values are modelled with the General Purpose Zone Development model using a combination of live weather data and historical production data.
Zone CodeCountryZone nameTierDay-ahead price
AEUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesC
AFAfghanistanAfghanistanC
AGAntigua and BarbudaAntigua and BarbudaC
ALAlbaniaAlbaniaC
AMArmeniaArmeniaC
AOAngolaAngolaC
ARArgentinaArgentinaA
ATAustriaAustriaAYes
AUAustraliaAustralia
AU-NSWAustraliaNew South WalesA
AU-NTAustraliaNorthern TerritoryA
AU-QLDAustraliaQueenslandA
AU-SAAustraliaSouth AustraliaA
AU-TASAustraliaTasmaniaA
AU-TAS-FIAustraliaFlinders IslandA
AU-TAS-KIAustraliaKing IslandA
AU-VICAustraliaVictoriaA
AU-WAAustraliaWestern AustraliaA
AU-WA-RIAustraliaRottnest IslandA
AWArubaArubaA
AXÅland IslandsÅland IslandsA
AZAzerbaijanAzerbaijanC
BABosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and HerzegovinaA
BBBarbadosBarbadosC
BDBangladeshBangladeshA
BEBelgiumBelgiumAYes
BFBurkina FasoBurkina FasoC
BGBulgariaBulgariaA
BHBahrainBahrainC
BIBurundiBurundiC
BJBeninBeninC
BNBruneiBruneiC
BOBoliviaBoliviaA
BRBrazilBrazil
BR-CSBrazilCentral BrazilA
BR-NBrazilNorth BrazilA
BR-NEBrazilNorth-East BrazilA
BR-SBrazilSouth BrazilA
BSBahamasBahamasC
BTBhutanBhutanC
BWBotswanaBotswanaC
BYBelarusBelarusC
BZBelizeBelizeC
CACanadaCanada
CA-ABCanadaAlbertaA
CA-BCCanadaBritish ColumbiaC
CA-MBCanadaManitobaC
CA-NBCanadaNew BrunswickC
CA-NLCanadaNewfoundland and LabradorC
CA-NSCanadaNova ScotiaC
CA-NTCanadaNorthwest TerritoriesC
CA-NUCanadaNunavutC
CA-ONCanadaOntarioA
CA-PECanadaPrince Edward IslandC
CA-QCCanadaQuébecA
CA-SKCanadaSaskatchewanC
CA-YTCanadaYukonC
CDDemocratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoC
CFCentral African RepublicCentral African RepublicC
CGCongoCongoC
CHSwitzerlandSwitzerlandC
CIIvory CoastIvory CoastC
CL-SENChileSistema Eléctrico NacionalA
CMCameroonCameroonC
CNChinaChinaC
COColombiaColombiaA
CRCosta RicaCosta RicaA
CUCubaCubaC
CVCabo VerdeCabo VerdeC
CWCuraçaoCuraçaoC
CYCyprusCyprusA
CZCzechiaCzechiaA
DEGermanyGermanyAYes
DJDjiboutiDjiboutiC
DKDenmarkDenmarkYes
DK-BHMDenmarkBornholmA
DK-DK1DenmarkWest DenmarkAYes
DK-DK2DenmarkEast DenmarkAYes
DMDominicaDominicaC
DODominican RepublicDominican RepublicC
DZAlgeriaAlgeriaC
ECEcuadorEcuadorC
EEEstoniaEstoniaAYes
EGEgyptEgyptC
EREritreaEritreaC
ESSpainSpainYes
ES-CESpainCeutaA
ES-CN-FVSpainFuerteventuraA
ES-CN-GCSpainGran CanariaA
ES-CN-HISpainEl HierroA
ES-CN-IGSpainIsla de la GomeraA
ES-CN-LPSpainLa PalmaA
ES-CN-LZSpainLanzaroteA
ES-CN-TESpainTenerifeA
ES-IB-FOSpainFormenteraA
ES-IB-IZSpainIbizaA
ES-IB-MASpainMallorcaA
ES-IB-MESpainMenorcaA
ES-MLSpainMelillaA
ETEthiopiaEthiopiaC
FIFinlandFinlandAYes
FJFijiFijiC
FKFalkland IslandsFalkland IslandsC
FMMicronesiaMicronesiaC
FOFaroe IslandsFaroe Islands
FO-MIFaroe IslandsMain IslandsA
FO-SIFaroe IslandsSouth IslandA
FRFranceFranceAYes
FR-CORFranceCorsicaA
GAGabonGabonC
GBGreat BritainGreat BritainAYes
GB-NIRGreat BritainNorthern IrelandB
GB-ORKGreat BritainOrkney IslandsA
GEGeorgiaGeorgiaA
GFFrench GuianaFrench GuianaA
GHGhanaGhanaC
GIGibraltarGibraltarC
GLGreenlandGreenlandC
GLGreenlandGreenlandC
GNGuineaGuineaC
GPGuadeloupeGuadeloupeA
GQEquatorial GuineaEquatorial GuineaC
GRGreeceGreeceA
GSSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsC
GTGuatemalaGuatemalaA
GUGuamGuamC
GWGuinea-BissauGuinea-BissauC
GYGuyanaGuyanaC
HKHong KongHong KongC
HNHondurasHondurasA
HRCroatiaCroatiaA
HTHaitiHaitiC
HUHungaryHungaryA
IDIndonesiaIndonesiaC
IEIrelandIrelandB
ILIsraelIsraelB
INMainland IndiaMainland India
IN-EAIndiaEastern IndiaB
IN-NEIndiaNorth Eastern IndiaB
IN-NOIndiaNorthern IndiaB
IN-SOIndiaSouthern IndiaB
IN-WEIndiaWestern IndiaB
IQIraqIraqC
IRIranIranC
ISIcelandIcelandA
ITItalyItaly
IT-CNOItalyCentral North ItalyA
IT-CSOItalyCentral South ItalyA
IT-NOItalyNorth ItalyA
IT-SARItalySardiniaA
IT-SICItalySicilyA
IT-SOItalySouth ItalyA
JMJamaicaJamaicaC
JOJordanJordanC
JPJapanJapan
JP-CBJapanChūbuB
JP-CGJapanChūgokuB
JP-HKDJapanHokkaidōB
JP-HRJapanHokurikuB
JP-KNJapanKansaiB
JP-KYJapanKyūshūB
JP-ONJapanOkinawaB
JP-SKJapanShikokuA
JP-THJapanTōhokuB
JP-TKJapanTōkyōB
KEKenyaKenyaC
KGKyrgyzstanKyrgyzstanC
KHCambodiaCambodiaC
KMComorosComorosC
KPNorth KoreaNorth KoreaC
KRSouth KoreaSouth KoreaA
KWKuwaitKuwaitC
KYCayman IslandsCayman IslandsC
KZKazakhstanKazakhstanC
LALaosLaosC
LBLebanonLebanonC
LCSaint LuciaSaint LuciaC
LKSri LankaSri LankaA
LRLiberiaLiberiaC
LSLesothoLesothoC
LTLithuaniaLithuaniaAYes
LULuxembourgLuxembourgAYes
LVLatviaLatviaAYes
LYLibyaLibyaC
MAMoroccoMoroccoC
MDMoldovaMoldovaA
MEMontenegroMontenegroA
MGMadagascarMadagascarC
MKNorth MacedoniaNorth MacedoniaA
MLMaliMaliC
MMMyanmarMyanmarC
MNMongoliaMongoliaC
MOMacao3Macao3C
MQMartiniqueMartiniqueA
MRMauritaniaMauritaniaC
MTMaltaMaltaC
MUMauritiusMauritiusC
MVMaldivesMaldivesC
MWMalawiMalawiC
MXMexicoMexicoA
MYMalaysiaMalaysia
MY-EMMalaysiaBorneoC
MY-WMMalaysiaPeninsulaA
MZMozambiqueMozambiqueC
NANamibiaNamibiaC
NCNew CaledoniaNew CaledoniaC
NENigerNigerC
NGNigeriaNigeriaA
NINicaraguaNicaraguaA
NLNetherlandsNetherlandsAYes
NONorwayNorwayYes
NO-NO1NorwaySoutheast NorwayAYes
NO-NO2NorwaySouthwest NorwayAYes
NO-NO3NorwayMiddle NorwayAYes
NO-NO4NorwayNorth NorwayAYes
NO-NO5NorwayWest NorwayAYes
NPNepalNepalC
NZNew ZealandNew ZealandA
OMOmanOmanC
PAPanamaPanamaA
PEPeruPeruA
PFFrench PolynesiaFrench PolynesiaA
PGPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaC
PHPhilippinesPhilippinesA
PH-LUPhilippinesLuzonA
PH-MIPhilippinesMindanaoA
PH-VIPhilippinesVisayasA
PKPakistanPakistanC
PLPolandPolandAYes
PMSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Pierre and MiquelonC
PRPuerto RicoPuerto RicoC
PSState of PalestineState of PalestineC
PTPortugalPortugalAYes
PT-MAPortugalMadeiraC
PWPalauPalauC
PYParaguayParaguayC
QAQatarQatarC
RERéunionRéunionA
RORomaniaRomaniaA
RSSerbiaSerbiaA
RU-1RussiaEurope-UralA
RU-2RussiaSiberiaA
RU-ASRussiaEastA
RWRwandaRwandaC
SASaudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaC
SBSolomon IslandsSolomon IslandsC
SCSeychellesSeychellesC
SDSudanSudanC
SESwedenSwedenYes
SE-SE1SwedenNorth SwedenAYes
SE-SE2SwedenNorth Central SwedenAYes
SE-SE3SwedenSouth Central SwedenAYes
SE-SE4SwedenSouth SwedenAYes
SGSingaporeSingaporeA
SISloveniaSloveniaA
SKSlovakiaSlovakiaA
SLSierra LeoneSierra LeoneC
SNSenegalSenegalC
SOSomaliaSomaliaC
SRSurinameSurinameC
SSSouth SudanSouth SudanC
SVEl SalvadorEl SalvadorA
SYSyriaSyriaC
SZEswatiniEswatiniC
TDChadChadC
TGTogoTogoC
THThailandThailandC
TJTajikistanTajikistanC
TLTimor-LesteTimor-LesteC
TMTurkmenistanTurkmenistanC
TNTunisiaTunisiaC
TOTongaTongaC
TRTurkeyTurkeyA
TTTrinidad and TobagoTrinidad and TobagoC
TWTaiwanTaiwanA
TZTanzaniaTanzaniaC
UGUgandaUgandaC
USContiguous United StatesContiguous United States
US-AKUSAAlaskaC
US-AK-SEAPAUSASoutheast Alaska Power AgencyA
US-CAL-BANCUSABalancing Authority of Northern CaliforniaA
US-CAL-CISOUSACAISOA
US-CAL-IIDUSAImperial Irrigation DistrictA
US-CAL-LDWPUSALos Angeles Department of Water and PowerA
US-CAL-TIDCUSATurlock Irrigation DistrictA
US-CAR-CPLEUSADuke Energy Progress EastA
US-CAR-CPLWUSADuke Energy Progress WestA
US-CAR-DUKUSADuke Energy CarolinasA
US-CAR-SCUSASouth Carolina Public Service AuthorityA
US-CAR-SCEGUSASouth Carolina Electric & Gas CompanyA
US-CAR-YADUSAAlcoa Power GeneratingA
US-CENT-SPAUSASouthwestern Power AdministrationA
US-CENT-SWPPUSASouthwest Power PoolA
US-FLA-FMPPUSAFlorida Municipal Power PoolA
US-FLA-FPCUSADuke Energy FloridaA
US-FLA-FPLUSAFlorida Power and Light CompanyA
US-FLA-GVLUSAGainesville Regional UtilitiesA
US-FLA-HSTUSACity of HomesteadB
US-FLA-JEAUSAJacksonville Electric AuthorityA
US-FLA-SECUSASeminole Electric CooperativeA
US-FLA-TALUSACity of TallahasseeA
US-FLA-TECUSATampa Electric CompanyA
US-MIDA-PJMUSAPJM InterconnectionA
US-MIDW-AECIUSAAssociated Electric CooperativeA
US-MIDW-LGEEUSALouisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky UtilitiesA
US-MIDW-MISOUSAMidcontinent ISOA
US-NE-ISNEUSAISO New EnglandA
US-NW-AVAUSAAvista CorporationA
US-NW-BPATUSABonneville Power AdministrationA
US-NW-CHPDUSAChelan CountyA
US-NW-DOPDUSADouglas CountyA
US-NW-GCPDUSAGrant CountyA
US-NW-GRIDUSAGridforce Energy ManagementA
US-NW-IPCOUSAIdaho Power CompanyA
US-NW-NEVPUSANevada Power CompanyA
US-NW-NWMTUSANorthwestern EnergyA
US-NW-PACEUSAPacificorp EastA
US-NW-PACWUSAPacificorp WestA
US-NW-PGEUSAPortland General Electric CompanyA
US-NW-PSCOUSAPublic Service Company of ColoradoA
US-NW-PSEIUSAPuget Sound EnergyA
US-NW-SCLUSASeattle City LightA
US-NW-TPWRUSACity of TacomaA
US-NW-WACMUSAWestern Area Power Administration - Rocky Mountain RegionA
US-NW-WAUWUSAWestern Area Power Administration - Upper Great Plains WestA
US-NY-NYISUSANew York ISOA
US-SE-SEPAUSASoutheastern Power AdministrationA
US-SE-SOCOUSASouthern Company ServicesA
US-SW-AZPSUSAArizona Public Service CompanyA
US-SW-EPEUSAEl Paso Electric CompanyA
US-SW-PNMUSAPublic Service Company of New MexicoA
US-SW-SRPUSASalt River ProjectA
US-SW-TEPCUSATucson Electric Power CompanyA
US-SW-WALCUSAWestern Area Power Administration - Desert Southwest RegionA
US-TEN-TVAUSATennessee Valley AuthorityA
US-TEX-ERCOUSAElectric Reliability Council of TexasA
UYUruguayUruguayA
UZUzbekistanUzbekistanC
VCSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesC
VEVenezuelaVenezuelaC
VIUSAVirgin IslandsC
VNVietnamVietnamC
VUVanuatuVanuatuC
WSSamoaSamoaC
XKKosovoKosovoA
YEYemenYemenC
YTMayotteMayotteC
ZASouth AfricaSouth AfricaA
ZMZambiaZambiaC
ZWZimbabweZimbabweC

About Marginal Emissions

Electricity Maps has worked with marginal emissions for close to a decade, when it decided to discontinue the marginal data offering in 2025 due to concerns about the veracity and verifiability of such signals. You'll find below a list of resources written on the topic, alongside with a list of caveats to consider before using marginal signals.

What marginal emissions are

Marginal emissions are the emissions of the power plant that would ramp up in reaction to an increase in electricity demand (read more in our blog post here). While marginal carbon intensity can be a useful framework for reasoning about what would happen based on a change in behavior, there are some important limitations to keep in mind:

Compatibility with regulation

Marginal emissions are incompatible with most of the reporting guidances, as well as all other major regulation. Recent legislations from the US government and the European Commission prohibit their use. Most importantly, marginal emissions are unsuitable for Scope 2 Accounting (read more here).

Greenhouse Gas Protocol The Scope 2 Guidance writes that “Companies shall not use marginal emission factors [...] for a location-based scope 2 calculation” and that "this guidance does not support an 'avoided emissions' approach for scope 2 accounting"

SBTi The Corporate near-term criteria stipulates that “avoided emissions fall under a separate accounting system from corporate inventories and do not count toward near-term science-based emission reduction targets.”

European Commission On the production of renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels, it is stated that “the emission intensity of electricity shall be determined following the approach for calculating the average carbon intensity of grid electricity.”

US Department of Energy - Clean Hydrogen "45v" Tax Credit The guidance stipulates that “the level of the credit is based on the lifecycle greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions that result from the process of producing clean hydrogen.”

Marginal signals oversimplify reality

On the surface, marginal emissions are the emissions caused by the power plant ramping up (or down) in response to a change in consumption. In reality, the electricity grid is a vast and complex interconnected system, having many interdependent components that all affect each others.

Grid operators acknowledge the marginal concept is an oversimplification of the reality they operate in. They state that the accuracy of these signals can't be assessed and verified in practice and therefore caution against their use.

Scientific experts warn about flaws of marginal emissions that prevent them from accurately estimating the impact of load shifting.

The Grid Operator 50 Hertz states that “Determining the correct [marginal] power plant is extremely complex or even impossible. [...] Furthermore, it is never possible to find out retrospectively whether the signal is correct”.

The Grid Operator PJM states that "Because of the various constraints and complexities involved, PJM cannot and does not make any guarantees as to the accuracy of the information nor that it is fit for any purpose."

The Princeton University & NREL state that “Short-run marginal emission factors neglect impactful phenomena and are unsuitable for assessing the power sector emissions impacts of hydrogen electrolysis”.

Public relations risks

At a time when sustainability claims come under heavy scrutiny, verifiability and auditability are key. Auditing a product feature based on marginal emissions is very difficult.

Financial Times Big Tech’s bid to rewrite the rules on net zero: [...] will allow companies to report emissions numbers that bear little relation to their real-world pollution.”

National Resources Defense Council The once in a generation chance to fix corporate emissions reporting: "Some of those global corporate giants are proposing an emissions offsetting approach that will weaken climate targets and open loopholes that allow them to claim success without delivering more ambitious – yet still attainable – climate outcomes."

Action Speaks Louder Hidden Power, Broken Rules: How companies are gaming emissions reporting rules and undermining global climate targets: “[...] pushing for new accounting rules that would allow companies to underreport their emissions by up to 90%.”

Challenging user experience

Marginal emissions can't be used to calculate end-users' footprint as presented in a historical usage dashboard. Recommendations based on marginal emissions factors may worsen the user’s historical footprint (calculated with hourly flow-traced emissions factors).

Users receive multiple other sources of information in their lives such as alerts from their electricity provider, or records of renewable generation in the news. These often contradict the recommendations formulated based on a marginal signal. Marginal emissions factors are commonly perceived as unintuitive and confusing for users, hindering trust and reducing engagement.

Further reading

We've written extensively about marginal emissions in our blog post series:

Selected scientific articles:

P. Gagnon et al., Short-run marginal emission rates omit important impacts of electric-sector interventions

Q. Xu et al., System-level impacts of voluntary carbon-free electricity procurement strategies

R. Bhandarkar et al., Estimating the marginal emissions impact of electric vehicle adoption in the WECC region in 2030

I. Riepin et al., Spatio-temporal load shifting for truly clean computing

P. Gagnon et al., Planning for the evolution of the electric grid with a long-run marginal emission rate

W. Ricks et al., Minimizing emissions from grid-based hydrogen production in the United States

T. Sukprasert et al., On the implications of choosing average versus marginal carbon intensity signals on carbon-aware optimizations

P. Grunewald et al., Taking the long view on short-run marginal emissions: how much carbon does flexibility and energy storage save?

Guides & blogs:

CEBI, Guide to sourcing marginal emissions factor data

G. Miller, Thoughts on REsurety's Locational Marginal Emissions white paper, and the need for open and transparent avoided carbon data

WattCarbon, What about "Marginal Emissions"?