ABOUT

Methodology

We provide carbon intensity data enabling consumers of electricity to steer usage.
Schedule when to charge your electric vehicle or route your ML models to datacenters that have the lowest carbon footprint.

How it works

Grid

We build a detailed representation of the electricity grid, mapping the physical infrastructure into a graph with nodes and edges.

Demand & Supply

Then we connect demand and generation data to the graph to track where energy is produced and consumed.

Weather

Pass atmospheric forecasts into our models that predict energy demand and the outputs of renewable power plants.

Power Flow

A power-flow model determines how electricity moves through the grid from generators to consumers.

Carbon Intensity

Finally, we apply emission factors to the resulting generation mix to calculate the carbon intensity in grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour.

You can explore the results of this process on the map or integrate our API.
On the map, select each resource to see where it contributes to the grid and drag the timeline to scrub through different hours.
Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of the metrics and data sources used in our model.

Parts of our grid model

Node

Nodes in our model are locations that have been aggregated from points where transmission lines connect, typically substations. At each node you can see the inflow and outflow of electricity along with the composition of resources.

Line

Lines represent transmission between nodes. Rather than mapping one-to-one to physical power lines, they are simplified while preserving the correct constraints. Along each line you can see which resources flow through the grid and the direction of flow.

Zone

Zones represent the connected areas served by each node at the sub-transmission level. For each zone you can inspect the resource composition of consumption and generation.

Carbon Intensity

Grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour (gCO2/kWh) measures the carbon emitted for each unit of electricity consumed.
This value is derived from direct operational factors that account for fuel combustion and exclude lifecycle emissions.
The bar below shows where each generation technology sits on the carbon intensity scale.

Carbon Intensitygrams CO2/kWh

0501005001000

Resources

Each resource represents a generation technology and is colored by its share of power flowing through the grid. Select one on the map (or below) to trace where it contributes.