In 2025, a leading multinational consumer goods company proudly declared:
“We are 100% renewable.”
Its sustainability report was glossy, filled with images of wind turbines and solar farms. Investors applauded. Employees celebrated. Customers felt good about their purchases.
But behind the scenes, expectations were shifting. Regulators, investors, and NGOs began asking tougher questions:
- “Is your renewable power actually generated at the same time you consume it?”
- “Does your solar purchase in Spain really decarbonize your factory in Germany?”
- “Or are you just buying certificates disconnected from reality?”
To answer these questions and strengthen trust in corporate climate claims, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol — the global authority on greenhouse gas accounting, relied upon by over 90% of Fortune 500 companies — is preparing to update its Scope 2 guidance to drive greater transparency, credibility, and climate impact.
For more than two decades, the GHG Protocol has been the global foundation for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Co-developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), it underpins corporate ESG disclosures, net-zero commitments, and investor frameworks such as CSRD, ISSB, and CDP.
It has provided companies with a common language for emissions accounting, empowering organizations to set ambitious climate targets and demonstrate progress.
Now, the Protocol is preparing to modernize Scope 2 reporting, aligning it with evolving market expectations, scientific integrity, and the real-world impact of corporate clean energy strategies. The Scope 2 Technical Working Group has shared its early direction, and the message is clear: In the future, it won’t be enough to say you buy green power — you’ll need to prove when and where it comes from.
For decades, companies have been able to make annual renewable energy claims by purchasing energy attribute certificates (RECs, GOs, I-RECs) from anywhere in the world. This approach has been hugely successful in driving global investment into renewable energy markets.
Now, the next chapter begins to further improve transparency, credibility and impact.
Major Shifts - “Where” and “When”
- 1. Time and Place Will Matter
- Renewable energy reporting is moving from annual averages to hourly and regional matching. If your North American data center claims to be powered by wind, you’ll need to demonstrate that clean energy was generated in the same grid, at the same time it was consumed. Implication is clear: Global procurement strategies must align energy sourcing with operations, integrating local, real-time renewables and considering storage solutions where needed.
- 2. From Claims to Impact
Alongside traditional reporting, the GHG Protocol plans to introduce a marginal emissions metric — designed to measure the actual emissions reductions enabled by clean energy sourcing. This will help distinguish further companies driving real grid decarbonization not only on paper.
A 2027 Deadline — But Act Now
- Late 2025 → Public consultation opens.
- - 2027 → Expected release of updated Scope 2 guidance.
While these timelines may seem distant, the shift to hourly, regional, and impact-driven reporting means corporate decarbonization strategies must evolve now in your planning and budgeting to prepare for the transition.
What does it mean to multinational corporations
This is more than compliance — it’s about credibility, leadership, and future-proofing ESG strategies:
- Companies that adapt early will earn investor trust.
- Brands that demonstrate real decarbonization will lead their sectors.
- Those who wait risk being left behind as expectations tighten.
In the years ahead, not all green power will be treated equally — and energy sourced with proven time and location matching will command a premium. Proving when and where your renewable energy comes from will soon be a standard requirement for credible climate leadership and real climate impact.
At GreenPowerHub, we are building technology-driven solutions and partnering with leading corporations to make this transition seamless. We help businesses act today and stay ahead of tomorrow’s reporting requirements.
Talk to us — let’s accelerate your path to credible decarbonization.
About GreenPowerHub
GreenPowerHub is a leading digital marketplace for trading renewable energy certificates, including Guarantees of Origin (GOs), serving stakeholders across Europe and global markets. By facilitating transparent, efficient trading and providing actionable market intelligence, GreenPowerHub empowers energy producers, suppliers, and consumers to participate in the energy transition and achieve their sustainability goals.
Reference: GHG Protocol Blog — Scope 2 Technical Working Group Progress Update