Scope 1 emissions
Fuel combustion, company vehicles, process emissions, and other sources directly controlled by your organization.
Open Scope 1 guideScope 1, 2, and 3 emissions guide
Understand Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and turn electricity reporting into action.
Use this guide to separate direct emissions, purchased energy emissions, and value-chain emissions, then move Scope 2 electricity needs into renewable certificate sourcing workflows.
60+ countries supported across certificate markets.
Emissions boundary
Three scopes, different action paths
Scope 1
Direct fuel and process emissions
Scope 2
Purchased electricity, steam, heat, and cooling
Scope 3
Upstream and downstream value-chain emissions
Choose the right scope
Which emissions question are you trying to answer?
The scopes are connected, but the data, ownership, and procurement levers differ. Start with the boundary that matches your job.
Scope 2 emissions
Electricity and other purchased energy where renewable certificates, market-based reporting, and sourcing workflows matter.
Open Scope 2 guideScope 3 emissions
Supplier, logistics, product-use, and other indirect categories that often require engagement across the value chain.
Open Scope 3 guidePublic GreenPowerHub metrics
Used by buyers, sustainability teams, traders, utilities, and service providers working across renewable certificate markets.
60+
Countries supported across certificate markets
700+
Companies registered
100+ TWh
Energy certificates traded
Start with boundaries
Good emissions work starts by knowing which team owns which lever.
Scope 1 is usually owned by operations, fleet, facilities, or engineering teams because the emissions come from assets the company controls.
Scope 2 sits between sustainability, procurement, energy, and finance. The accounting question is about purchased energy, but the practical work often becomes renewable electricity sourcing, certificate selection, market coverage, and documentation.
Scope 3 usually depends on suppliers, customers, logistics partners, and product data. GreenPowerHub should be positioned carefully here: supplier renewable electricity programs can support broader value-chain work, but full Scope 3 accounting needs more than certificate procurement.
Scope routing criteria
- Who controls the activity or asset?
- Is the emissions source direct, purchased energy, or value chain?
- Which data source is available today?
- Which team can take action now?
- Where does renewable electricity sourcing create a practical next step?
- Which claims or disclosures need review before publishing?
GreenPowerHub workflow
Move from emissions category to renewable electricity workflow.
For electricity-related work, GreenPowerHub helps teams move from a reporting need into market coverage, structured sourcing, and trade documentation workflows.
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1
Map facilities and countries
List the sites, countries, and electricity consumption that drive the Scope 2 requirement.
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2
Check certificate markets
Use market coverage to understand which certificate systems and countries may be relevant.
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3
Structure sourcing needs
Define origin, vintage, technology, volume, delivery route, and documentation expectations before asking suppliers to quote.
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4
Compare and document
Use RFQ, market data, marketplace, and trade workflow tools to compare responses and keep next steps traceable.
Related guides
Go deeper by scope or industry.
Use the deeper pages when the question shifts from definitions to sourcing, reporting, or industry-specific electricity strategy.
Scope 2 emissions
Understand dual reporting, certificates, and renewable electricity sourcing workflows.
Open Scope 2Scope 2 by industry
Compare Scope 2 priorities for data centers, manufacturing, technology companies, and offices.
Compare industriesI-REC Scope 2 reporting
See how I-REC can support market-based Scope 2 reporting in relevant markets.
Open I-REC guideCertificate market lookup
Start with country and certificate market coverage when the right instrument is unclear.
Check coverageStandards context
Use current standards carefully and treat active updates as in-progress.
The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard defines the scope boundary structure used by many corporate inventories. Its Scope 2 Guidance covers location-based and market-based reporting for purchased energy.
As of May 2026, the GHG Protocol Scope 2 update and SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard V2 process are still in progress. Public page copy should describe these processes as active updates, not finalized requirements.
Disclosure regimes such as ISSB and regional rules can require Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 information. The page should help visitors understand the practical boundary and then route them to qualified advisory, accounting, or procurement work where needed.
FAQ
Scope 1, 2, and 3 questions
Definitions
What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions?
Scope 1 emissions come from sources a company owns or controls. Scope 2 emissions come from purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Scope 3 emissions are other indirect upstream and downstream value-chain emissions.
Which scope is most connected to renewable certificates?
Scope 2 is most directly connected because market-based Scope 2 reporting can use contractual instruments such as renewable electricity certificates when they meet the relevant guidance and claim requirements.
GreenPowerHub fit
Can GreenPowerHub help with every emissions scope?
GreenPowerHub is strongest where the work involves renewable electricity certificate markets, Scope 2 sourcing, RFQs, market data, marketplace activity, and trade documentation. Scope 1 and full Scope 3 accounting usually require additional operational, supplier, or advisory work.
Where should a company start?
Start by identifying the countries, facilities, electricity consumption, and certificate systems connected to the Scope 2 footprint. Then use coverage, market data, and RFQ workflows to make sourcing decisions more comparable.
Official sources
References for standards, reporting, and market context.
Next step
Turn the Scope 2 part of your emissions work into a sourcing plan.
Use GreenPowerHub to check certificate markets, define requirements, compare supplier responses, and keep renewable electricity sourcing work moving.