What Are Scope 2 Emissions?
Scope 2 indirect GHG emissions result from purchased energy (i.e. electricity, steam, heat, or cooling). Although the physical GHG emissions occur at the facility where the energy is generated, the user of the energy is held accountable for the emissions, according to GHG Protocol rules.
Cornell purchases some electricity from the New York State grid. On average, the upstate NY grid is one of the cleanest in the country because a significant amount of electricity is generated by renewable energy sources and nuclear power. In the future, electricity purchased in NYS may have a reduced fossil fuel impact as the state reaches its renewable energy development goals.
How are we reducing Scope 2 emissions?
The main contribution to reducing Cornell’s Scope 2 emissions was the implementation of the Combined Heat & Power Plant in 2009. Currently, Cornell is producing most of the electricity needed on campus at the plant, which previously was purchased from the grid. The main emissions from electricity use are, thus, moved from Scope 2 to Scope 11.
Production of renewable energy on Campus also reduces the demand for external power purchase: Cornell’s small hydroelectric plant, in combination with the roof-top solar facilities on several buildings, are feeding power into the campus’ electricity grid. The annual on-campus production equals approximately the consumption of 470 American households2.
OFF-CAMPUS SOLAR FARMS:
Impacts of the power produced on our off-site solar renewable energy projects are accounted for in the Removal category. The solar projects are connected to the New York State Grid and are contributing to reduced emissions from the overall grid.
1 Cornell still has some Scope 2 emissions because we are buying a minor amount of electricity is purchased from the grid annually.
2 Source eia – U.S. Energy Information Administration, avg. annual purchase was 10,791 kWh in 2022