Transmission and distribution

Transmission and distribution (T&D) factors should be used to report the Scope 3 emissions associated with grid losses (the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity from the power plant to the organisations that purchase it).

This value links to the Master Value EN1 GHG Emissions value.

EN1.3.5

Transmission and distribution

Environment
  • Measuring GHG Emissions

Key Value

252 per tCO2e or 25.2p per kgCO2e

The monetised value of the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity from the power plant to the organisations that purchase it

  • T&D- UK electricity: 46p per kWh
  • Distribution – district heat & steam: 24p per kWh
  • Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Average Car): 0.03p per km

This value represents a cost or disbenefit through the creation of the GHGs emitted.

Air conversion factors should be used to report Scope 3 emissions for transmission and distribution. For more information about principles for GHG accounting and reporting and three “scopes” of emissions, please visit MeasureUp EN1 GHG Emissions value.

According to the 2021 carbon values from DESNZ/BEIS, Carbon values in £2020 prices per tonne of CO2: central series for 2023 is £252 per tCO2e or 25.2p per kgCO2e. For more information, please visit MeasureUp GHG Emissions value.

UK government’s Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors – 2024 reports the kgCO2e per transmission and distribution (T&D) and UK electricity T&D for electric vehicles factors. Access the data.

Activity Type Unit kg CO2e Monetised Value
T&D- UK electricity* Electricity: UK kWh 0.01830 0.46p
Distribution – district heat & steam** 5% loss kWh 0.00946 0.24p
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle *** Average car km 0.00121 0.03p

* Emissions impact of the efficiency losses experienced in getting electricity from the power plant to the end user.

** Distribution – district heat & steam refers to energy losses that happen when district heating or district steam systems deliver energy from a central plant to buildings or facilities.

*** Transmission and distribution (T&D) factors for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Please visit the government conversion factors for greenhouse gas reporting website for further guidance.

This value represents a cost or disbenefit through the creation of the GHGs emitted.  The value should therefore not be presented as a positive value or added to an overall social value figure.

Local Needs Analysis Data Source

Before using this MeasureUp value, we encourage you to assess the local need in relation to the activity or outcome.

Here is the most useful initial data source for assessing local need in relation to this value.

Local needs analysis for ” Transmission and distribution”, use the Greenhouse Gas Emissions data provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This indicator measures carbon emissions across sectors and is available annually at both local authority and regional levels. It supports understanding of local contributions to climate change and progress toward net zero targets.

Bronze

Effort

Accuracy

Monetised value:

Monetised value: At the Bronze level, you should calculate the approximate energy loss. Represent the cost or disbenefit of the emissions from the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity from the power plant to the organisations that purchase it.

Here’s an example

  • A company buys 1000 MWh of district heat.
  • But because of pipe losses, 1050 MWh had to be produced.
  • The 50 MWh “wasted” due to pipe heat loss causes Scope 3 emissions under “Distribution – district heat & steam”.

Monetised value of the emissions impact of the efficiency losses is 50*0.24p = 12p.

Silver

Effort

Accuracy

Monetised value:

At the Silver level, you should calculate the approximate km by type of vehicle, as each produces different levels of carbon emissions. Represent the cost or disbenefit of the emissions from T&D losses and electricity emissions from electric vehicles fully, organisations should account for the T&D loss associated with the electricity used to charge them.

UK government’s Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors – 2024 reports the kgCO2e per km/miles driven for different type of passenger vehicles. Access the data.

  • Cars (by market segment): Mini, Supermini, Lower Medium, Upper Medium, Executive, Luxury, Sports, Dual Purpose 4X4, MPV.
  • Cars (by size): Small Car, Medium Car, Large Car, Average Car.
  • Vans: Class I, Class II, Class III

Estimate the equivalent alternative mode of transport being used.  For the monetised value times this by the monetised cost of carbon.

Here’s an example

Company reports the emissions from T&D losses associated with the mileage travelled in its plug-in electric company cars, which will include a Scope 3 emission.

Step 1: Identify the type of vehicle used in traveling: Average Size Car- Battery Electric Vehicle

Step 2: Determine approximate travel distances:

  • Average Size Car- Battery Electric Vehicle: 2000 km

Step 3: Calculate the monetised value of emissions:

Average Size Car- Battery Electric Vehicle: 2000* 0.0062*25.2p = 312p

Total Monetised value of travel by land for this organisation is £3.12 over a year.

Gold

Effort

Accuracy

Monetised value:

At the Gold level, you would be expected to

  • Measure more accurately using more specific data for you in-scope activities.
  • Track the emissions over time. Steps in tracking emissions (choosing a base year and recalculating base year emissions) are explained in detail in the GHG Protocol Chapter 5 – Tracking Emissions Over Time

Here’s an example

A company reports its business travel by land emissions for the meetings in 2023 as

the emissions impact of the efficiency losses from Average Size Car- Battery Electric Vehicle: 2000* 0.0062*25.2p = 312p

the emissions impact of the efficiency losses from Distribution – district heat & steam is 50*0.24p = 12p.

Total Monetised value of travel by land for this organisation is 324p in 2023.

Its business travel by land emissions for the meetings in 2024 is

the emissions impact of the efficiency losses from Average Size Car- Battery Electric Vehicle: 1000* 0.0062*25.2p = 156p

the emissions impact of the efficiency losses from Distribution – district heat & steam is 50*0.24p = 12p.

Total Monetised value of travel by land for this organisation is 168p in 2024

So, the monetised value of the reduction in greenhouse gas emission from 2023 to 2024 for transmission and distribution of electric vehicles is 324p – 168p = 156p.

This can be represented as a positive value to show the mitigation or reduction of carbon, although this should still not be added to an overall positive social value figure as this would mislead that this is positive value creation rather than negative value mitigation.

Gold+

Effort

Accuracy

Monetised value:

In the Gold+ level of GHG emission values, you can focus on better management and improvement of your reporting on the GHG emissions.

The following steps could be useful:

  • Set clear targets and a target date
  • Provide resources to take the actions necessary to meet your target

Environmental Reporting Guidelines: In the  Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Guidance (SECR) there are two types of targets outlined:

  • An absolute reduction target which compares absolute figures in the target year to the base year
  • An intensity target based in an appropriate other unit or normalising factor (e.g. kgCO2e per average passenger per km)

For more information please visit Environmental Reporting Guidelines: Including streamlined energy and carbon reporting guidance (SECR).

The actions under Gold+ for the environmental values in MeasureUp are also in line with the eighth Principle of Social Value ‘Be Responsive’ which represents the imperative for organisations to respond to impact measurement or ‘Social Value accounts’ with action to improve positive impact and decrease negative impact. Users of this Standard will create a structured ‘impact management approach’ that can guide decision making at strategic, tactical, and operational levels to optimise impacts on wellbeing.

Value Type: Activity What's this?
UN SDG Categories:
  • 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • 13. Climate Action
 What's this?
2020 Social Value Models:
    • MAC 4.1 Additional environmental benefits
    • MAC 4.2 Influence environmental protection and improvement
    • Policy Outcome 4: Effective stewardship of the environment
    • Theme 3: Fighting Climate Change
 What's this?
2025 Social Value Models:
What's this?

Evidence

Measure Up focuses on empowering you to numerically measure the impact you’re having. We recommend that numeric reports are backed up with stories and other types of evidence to help illustrate, in human terms, the impact that’s being made on individuals.

We recommend seeking consent from participants in your intervention to collect and tell their story. This should include a little background on the participant, a summing up of life before the intervention, the human impact of the intervention, and the longer term (if known) impact on the person’s life outside of, and after, the intervention.

Providing photographs, audio recordings, video interviews or even artefacts from the intervention (for example, writing, paintings, music from creative interventions) can add more to the story, and convey the emotional impact of interventions more directly.

In some cases it’s appropriate to anonymise or abbreviate the personal information of case study participants. No story should be published or shared without the recorded consent of the individual(s) it concerns. Individuals continue to own the rights to their stories and if they request you stop sharing the story or making it available online you should do so promptly and without need for justification.

More help

We want to empower anyone to perform and improve their impact measurement – without needing a degree in economics.

If you need any more help, or just someone to do the legwork for you we can help signpost you to software, training and consultancy to help you get to grips with the impact you’re having and value you are creating.

Data Sources