Can a renewable power target replace a scope 2 reduction target under SBTi?

Yes. C21 of the SBTi Corporate Near-Term Criteria V5.3.1 accepts a target to actively source renewable electricity instead of a Scope 2 reduction target. The thresholds are 80% of electricity use by 2025 and 100% by 2030. Companies already at those levels must keep or raise them.

What C21 allows

• It replaces a target on emissions from generating the electricity you buy. It is Scope 2 only.
• The share is renewable electricity over total electricity use.
• Thresholds follow RE100: 80% by 2025, 100% by 2030.
• For long-term targets, 100% must be held beyond 2030.
• Companies reporting Scope 2 location-based can use it if they show active sourcing through market instruments (footnote 24).

Reading it in late 2026

2025 is past, so a new target is really a path to 100% by 2030. If you already source 85%, you cannot set a target below 85%: C21 asks you to hold or raise it. Purchased steam or heat is not covered by an electricity target, so cover it with a Scope 2 emissions target if you buy it.

Routes that count in India

• Rooftop solar you consume on site.
• Group captive or third-party solar and wind through open access, with the attributes in your name.
• A discom green tariff where the bill or a certificate states your renewable units.
• RECs retired in your company's name for the same year.

Watch the target year

SBTi Commitment and Target Statuses V2.1 shows a renewable target ending in 2025 as Expired if no new target is submitted by the end of 2026, even while the company's 2030 targets stay current.

Example: a 3,000 MWh factory

• 100% by 2030: 3,000 MWh renewable
• Rooftop solar consumed on site: 450 MWh, which is 15%
• Gap: 3,000 minus 450 = 2,550 MWh from open access, green tariff or RECs
• If load grows to 3,600 MWh by 2030, the gap becomes 3,150 MWh

Example company.

What Senseible does here

Senseible reads electricity bills for units and billing period and reports Scope 2 location-based and market-based; the market-based figure needs your certificate or contract data. It does not set, submit or validate SBTi targets; SBTi Services validates them.

• Indian RECs for an SBTi Scope 2 target
• SBTi V2: Scope 2 target coverage
• Why an SBTi target shows "Expired"
• Scope 3 supplier evidence

Sources: SBTi, Corporate Near-Term Criteria V5.3.1 (final, April 2026, in effect from 14 April 2026): C21 and footnotes 24, 25, SBTi, Commitment and Target Statuses, Version 2.1 (October 2026): Annex 1

Last reviewed 2026-11-01.