If I buy a DISCOM green tariff, can I report zero Scope 2?
Only in your market-based figure, only for the units the green tariff covers, and only if the renewable attributes are documented as yours and not claimed by anyone else. Your location-based Scope 2 stays at units x grid factor. Most companies end up with a lower market-based figure, not zero.
What the green tariff is
The Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022 let any consumer ask its distribution company for green power at a green tariff, set by the state electricity regulatory commission. You stay on your normal connection; the discom buys renewable power to match your request. The Rules also provide for a green certificate to the consumer for the green energy consumed.
The test under the GHG Protocol
The Scope 2 Guidance lets a contractual instrument lower market-based emissions only if it meets its Quality Criteria. For a green tariff, check that:
- It conveys the renewable attribute for a stated number of kWh, in a document from the discom.
- The attribute is claimed once: retired or cancelled for you, not also counted by the discom for another buyer or sold as a certificate.
- It covers your reporting period and comes from the same market, India.
- You keep the tariff order, the bill showing green units, and the certificate or statement as evidence.
When zero is honest
Market-based Scope 2 is zero only if every kWh you used in the year is covered by qualifying green tariff units or other qualifying instruments. Units not covered take a residual mix factor; India has no published residual mix, so the guidance allows the grid average, which you should disclose.
What to report
- Location-based Scope 2: all units x the CEA grid factor.
- Market-based Scope 2: uncovered units x grid factor, plus covered units x the instrument's rate (zero for renewable).
- A note naming the instrument, units covered, period and evidence.
Worked example: 60% on green tariff
- Annual consumption: 1,00,000 kWh, of which 60,000 kWh billed under the green tariff with a certificate
- Location-based: 1,00,000 x 0.710 = 71,000 kg CO2
- Market-based: 40,000 x 0.710 = 28,400 kg CO2 (green units at zero)
- Report both: 71.0 t location-based, 28.4 t market-based
What Senseible does here
Senseible shows location-based Scope 2 from your bills at 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh (CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0) and can show market-based alongside it when you record the green tariff as an instrument with its quantity, period and evidence document. It does not confirm with your discom that the attributes were not claimed elsewhere.
Sources: GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance (2015), Chapter 7 Scope 2 Quality Criteria, Electricity (Promoting Renewable Energy Through Green Energy Open Access) Rules, 2022 (powermin.gov.in)
Last reviewed 2026-10-15. The GHG Protocol is revising its Scope 2 Guidance and state green tariff orders change; recheck the Quality Criteria and your state's tariff order each year.