Carbon

Electricity grid carbon intensity (emission factor) by country

The same kilowatt-hour has a very different carbon footprint from country to country. See what the grid behind your project emits before choosing between electric and fuel-based systems.

What the assessment shows

  • The carbon intensity of the country's electricity grid.
  • A benchmark against other countries.
  • The generation mix by fuel.

Data source

Country-level yearly data from Our World in Data and Ember, using the latest year available for each country. The figures are national, not regional.

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Frequently asked questions

What is grid carbon intensity?

The amount of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) emitted to produce one unit of electricity on a given grid, usually expressed in grams of CO₂e per kilowatt-hour. It depends on how much of the electricity comes from fossil fuels.

Why does it matter for building design?

It changes the carbon impact of electrifying heating and cooling, and the carbon value of on-site PV. The lower the grid's intensity, the lower the operational emissions of an all-electric building – and the less effective on-site PV generation might be.

Is the data regional?

No. C4B uses national figures per country from Our World in Data and Ember.

Learn the concepts

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