Corporate carbon footprint assessment and development for a distribution system operator
Viiala, Topias (2023)
Diplomityö
Viiala, Topias
2023
School of Engineering Science, Tuotantotalous
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2023061656265
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2023061656265
Tiivistelmä
Global surface temperatures have been rising due to greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and global warming has become a defining challenge of our time. In the effort to mitigate human made climate change, corporate carbon footprinting has emerged as a widely spread tool used by companies worldwide to assess the environmental impact of their operations. Assessing a corporate carbon footprint however requires companies to extensively collect and manage data inventories throughout their business activities and supply chain. Furthermore, companies often lack the capabilities to produce holistic assessments of their corporate carbon footprint. Addressing these challenges, this thesis provides a practical example of applying the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s standards for assessing the corporate carbon footprint of an urban electricity distribution system operator. Additionally, observations to further develop the assessment process are discussed.
Overall, the case company’s corporate carbon footprint for the assessment year of 2022 amounted to 13416 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of which 95% are indirect emissions occurring from activities in the supply chain. Due to the high significance of supply chain related emissions, assessment development efforts should focus on information systems for improved data management and on stakeholder engagement to nurture accuracy and reliability of the assessment. Furthermore, distribution system operators are pivotal in enabling the transition towards low-carbon energy systems. Developing standardized approaches within the industry may lower the burdens of electricity distribution and transmission stakeholders when assessing and managing their corporate carbon footprints.
Overall, the case company’s corporate carbon footprint for the assessment year of 2022 amounted to 13416 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of which 95% are indirect emissions occurring from activities in the supply chain. Due to the high significance of supply chain related emissions, assessment development efforts should focus on information systems for improved data management and on stakeholder engagement to nurture accuracy and reliability of the assessment. Furthermore, distribution system operators are pivotal in enabling the transition towards low-carbon energy systems. Developing standardized approaches within the industry may lower the burdens of electricity distribution and transmission stakeholders when assessing and managing their corporate carbon footprints.