We want to continuously reduce our own CO₂ footprint. By 2030, we will halve our CO₂ emissions and by 2035 at the latest, we want to be completely climate neutral as a entire company0The EnBW climate neutrality target refers to our own emissions (Scope 1 and 2). Scope 3 is mainly influenced by the gas consumption of our customers and would require the use of climate-neutral gases in the future. The target refers to CO₂eq (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and SF₆). The reference year is 2018.. Further information on our climate neutrality target is available at www.enbw.com/sustainability.
CO₂ footprint of EnBW
EnBW balances and reports its CO₂ footprint in accordance with the international standard "Greenhouse Gas Protocol", taking into account Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions.
In addition, EnBW reports the key figure "Avoided CO₂ emissions" as part of its CO₂ footprint. A key objective of the energy revolution is climate protection through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the efficient use of energy. The "Avoided CO₂ emissions“ are a further measure of EnBW's contribution to achieving this target. This includes all EnBW's activities - both internally and in relation to customers - that support implementation of the energy revolution.
Emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3)
Other indirect greenhouse gas emissions
- Upstream gas sales (gas procurement)
- Procurement of fuel
- Business trips
Scope 3 upstream: Upstream emissions by third parties
Direct greenhouse gas emissions from sources belonging to or directly controlled by the company
- Electricity generation
- Heat generation
- Operation of gas pipelines and gas plants
- Operation of electricity grid
- Buildings
- Vehicles
Scope 2: Indirect emissions at EnBW
Indirect greenhouse gas emissions originating during the production of purchased electricity, steam, district heating and cooling that the company consumes; grid losses
- Grid losses
- Operation of plants, electricity grid
- Operation of plants, gas grid
- Operation of plants, water supply
- Buildings
Scope 1: Direct emissions at EnBW
Other indirect greenhouse gas emissions
- Gas consumption by customers (B2B and B2C gas sales)
Scope 3 downstream: Downstream emissions by third parties
Avoided CO₂ emissions
EnBW business activities that lead to the avoidance of CO₂ emissions and support the targets of the energy revolution:
- Expansion of the generation through renewable energies
- Energy supply contracting
- Energy efficiency projects and expansion of renewable energies at customers/partners
- Production and sale of bio natural gas
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17.5 | 16.4 | 9.6 | 10.8 | 16.6 |
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0.5 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
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37.7 | 60.9 | 49.8 | 42.0 | 16.8 |
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10.0 | 9.8 | 8.9 | 7.9 | 6.9 |
Further data on the CO₂ footprint can be found in the Environmental Data Table.
Direct CO₂ emissions are determined mainly by the deployment of our power plants. As a result of rising gas prices caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine, the transmission system operator instructed us to deploy our reserve power plants to a greater extent to maintain the security of supply. This led to an increase in direct CO₂ emissions from 16.4 million t CO₂eq in 2021 to 17.5 million t CO₂eq in 2022. Higher indirect CO₂ emissions from grid losses were the main reason for the increase in Scope 2 CO₂ emissions from 0.4 million t CO₂eq to 0.5 million t CO₂eq. Scope 3 CO₂ emissions are mainly influenced by the gas consumption of our customers and thus by gas sales in the B2C and B2B sectors. As a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine, gas sales and thus also the Scope 3 emissions fell significantly in the 2022 financial year from 60.9 million t CO₂eq in the previous year to 37.7 million t CO₂eq. There was an increase in CO₂ emissions avoided, which was primarily attributable to the increase in biogas activities in 2022, from 9.8 million t CO₂eq to 10.0 million t CO₂eq.
Specific CO₂ emissions of the self-generated electricity
The specific CO₂ emissions of our own electricity generation describe those CO₂ emissions that are emitted on average by EnBW's entire generation portfolio for the production of 1 kWh. This key figure enables a direct comparison of CO₂ emissions from our electricity generation with CO₂ emissions from electricity generation in Germany as published in the context of electricity labelling in accordance with § 42 EnWG.
In 2022, own generation of electricity was slightly below the previous year's level at 42.1 TWh. Generation based on renewable energies increased compared to the previous year due to the addition of new power plants and better wind conditions, although generation from our hydropower plants was significantly lower than the level in the previous year due to low water levels. The proportion of own generation from renewable energy sources thus increased in comparison to the previous year to 27.9 %. In contrast, there was an increase in the deployment of our coal power plants in Germany, especially in southwest Germany to maintain the security of supply, but also in France due to the priority given to the storage of gas in the second half of 2022 as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the fact that many of the French nuclear power plants were taken offline. Although generation at our coal power plants increased slightly driven by prices on the market, generation at the gas power plants fell considerably. This led to an increase of our specific carbon emissions in own generation from 386 g CO₂/kWh in 2021 to 401 g CO₂/kWh in 2022. A corresponding increase can also be seen in CO₂ emissions from electricity generation in Germany.
| EnBW Group | German average in previous year² | |
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401 | 350 |
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386 | 310 |
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268 | 352 |
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235 | 421 |
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340 | 435 |
¹ Total own electricity generation with the nuclear power plants included. Own electricity generation contains own power plants, contracted power plants and longterm electricity supply contracts.
² The German average for the reporting year in question is not published until the autumn of the following year. Comparison is therefore with the German average for the previous year.