How carbon intensity
is estimated
A transparent, reproducible estimate—not a claim of meter-level precision. Gridmix Atlas combines reported generation with a fixed lifecycle factor for each fuel.
Each MW observation is multiplied by its interval duration to get MWh. Negative generation is excluded from the carbon total. The same calculation is applied at every displayed time range.
Lifecycle emission
factors
Factors are central estimates in grams of CO₂-equivalent per kWh. They include lifecycle effects for consistency across fossil, renewable, and nuclear generation.
Production-based
The estimate follows electricity reported inside the selected system. It is not a consumption-based flow model and does not trace imported power to its originating plant.
Average, not marginal
This is the weighted average of the visible mix. It does not estimate which generator would respond to one additional kWh of demand.
Storage accounting
Storage is assigned zero at discharge because charging emissions are already present in the generating mix. Without charge-source tracing, this can make short windows look cleaner than they truly are.
Trade stays separate
Country fuel shares describe domestic generation. Reported net imports and exports are shown alongside the mix, but imported power is not assigned a fuel unless its origin is known. Net trade is not the same as gross cross-border flows.