When should you use electricity to reduce your carbon footprint?

Member Press Release

Not a Member? Join Today

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 to 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭? 

Electricity carbon intensity is falling - a result of over 20 years of investment in renewable generation.

However, despite this trend the carbon intensity of the electricity grid is not constant, and varies considerably by time of day and from day to day.

Many businesses are seeking to be able to either use more when carbon intensity is low, or develop technology to move demand to low carbon periods.

So when is carbon intensity lowest? Simple analysis of the last 3 years data from national grid demonstrates that on average the carbon intensity is lower overnight - when demand is low, and renewable generation that is available will continue to operate.

Good news for overnight EV charging and off-peak consumption - provided the demand shift doesn't create the requirement for fossil fuel generation to need to switch on.

Minimising carbon intensity is going to get complicated.

SOURCE: Cielo Energy (Originally published on 20th January 2022)