SECTORS / GICS-55101010 / TRANSITIONS

Utilities — Electricity · transition pathways

The recognised primary transition pathway for utilities — electricity, plus the upstream sectors utilities — electricity firms depend on for their own decarbonisation. A consulting firm cutting business travel still needs aviation to decarbonise; a REIT cutting tenant energy still needs the grid to clean up. These are the rate limiters.

Primary pathway

SBTi Power + UK CCC balanced pathway + TPT Disclosure

TSOs align to SBTi Power for their own operational trajectory and to the national net-zero pathway (UK CCC balanced pathway; equivalent US ISO / EU TSO documents) for enabled emissions. TPT Disclosure Framework is the UK reporting standard.

Reference ↗

Decarbonisation pathways

hover to read · click to pin

Year readout

Hover the chart to read off Best / Realistic / Worst values at any year. Click to pin the readout.

2050 endpoint:
Best 0% · Worst 60%

Grid carbon intensity · % of 2020 gCO2/kWh · base 2020 · Source: IEA WEO 2023 — NZE / APS / STEPS

Dependant pathways· 5

Upstream sectors utilities — electricity firms rely on. The faster these decarbonise, the faster the firm can hit its own targets — even when it does everything in its control.

SF6 & fugitive gases

Scope 1

Reference pathway

SF6 (GWP 24,300) leaks from HV switchgear. Vendor readiness on SF6-free switchgear sets the phase-out timeline. Single largest Scope 1 lever available to a TSO.

framework:EU F-gas Regulation, IEC SF6-free switchgear standard

No global scenario — this pathway plays out at the site level. Select a site to see the local transition pathway.

Your exposure

Sector-generic framing shown above — company-specific exposure narrative pending.

Grid buildout materials

Scope 3 · cat 2

Reference pathway

Steel, aluminium, copper, concrete for every new circuit + substation. Sector decarbonisation of these materials caps how quickly grid Scope 3 falls.

framework:SBTi Cement, SBTi Steel, Copper Mark

Best0%

Realistic50%

Worst85%

Cement + steel sector emissions · % of 2020 emissions · base 2020
Source: GCCA Net Zero Roadmap, ResponsibleSteel, IEA NZE Industry

Your exposure

Sector-generic framing shown above — company-specific exposure narrative pending.

Transmission & distribution losses

Scope 2 (own use)

Reference pathway

Line losses are ~2-3% of energy transported. Higher voltages, HVDC links, transformer efficiency all reduce Scope 2 proportional to load.

framework:Ofgem RIIO, IEA Net Zero (Power)

Best0%

Realistic15%

Worst60%

Grid carbon intensity · % of 2020 gCO2/kWh · base 2020
Source: IEA WEO 2023 — NZE / APS / STEPS

Your exposure

Sector-generic framing shown above — company-specific exposure narrative pending.

Connection of low-carbon generation

Enabled Scope 3

Reference pathway

How fast the TSO can connect new wind + solar + storage is the biggest single lever they have on national emissions. Connection queue length + reinforcement pace caps power-sector decarbonisation.

framework:IEA Net Zero (Power), UK CCC, NG ESO Future Energy Scenarios

Best0%

Realistic15%

Worst60%

Grid carbon intensity · % of 2020 gCO2/kWh · base 2020
Source: IEA WEO 2023 — NZE / APS / STEPS

Your exposure

Sector-generic framing shown above — company-specific exposure narrative pending.

Supply chain engagement

Scope 3 · cat 1

Reference pathway

Contractor + OEM supply chain (transformer, cable, civils) carries most enabled Scope 3 through embodied materials.

framework:CDP Supply Chain

No global scenario — this pathway plays out at the site level. Select a site to see the local transition pathway.

Your exposure

Sector-generic framing shown above — company-specific exposure narrative pending.

Decarbonisation by location — coming soon

Once we have HQ + operations location data per firm in this cohort, we'll overlay Ember grid-carbon-intensity data per country so you can see the geographical decarbonisation tailwind (or headwind) each firm is operating against.

Source: ember-energy.org · Global Electricity Review + per-country grid carbon intensity (gCO2/kWh).