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beyond carbon neutral
beyond carbon neutral

Beyond carbon neutral

From inception, we have delivered more electricity sourced from Australian renewable energy generators to the grid than our customers consume.^

As we continue to support more renewable energy in Australia, we will strive to have a positive impact on our environment and go beyond carbon neutral.

Our positive impact on the environment

“Historically, the net greenhouse gas emissions abatement from Diamond Energy’s renewable energy generators exceeds the GHG emissions arising from the electricity consumed by our customers.”^

“Diamond Energy owned and controlled generation assets deliver a lower emission intensity than the grid average. Since inception our assets have delivered a net abatement of 2.12 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per MWh of generated electricity. This is even greater if we include the avoided emissions that would otherwise have been released from organic waste.”^

Fossil fuel generation typically delivers an emissions intensity up to 1.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per MWh (tCO2/MWh) of generated electricity** and the grid average is +0.82 tCO2/MWh (2007-2023 average)*.

We measure our performance using the international Green House Gas protocol (GHG) under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)***. These are the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards and are the same ones used by 92% of Fortune 500 companies that respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
These acknowledge that greenhouse emissions performance goes beyond what is achievable by acquiring carbon offsets targeted just to a customer’s usage. They include the ‘suppliers’ sources, focusing on generation assets owned or controlled.
The SBTi is a joint initiative between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It is intended to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, consistent with science, to limit warming to less than 1.5ºC / 2°C.
Both the GHG Protocol and the SBTi assess a company’s emissions commitment to reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
  • Scope 1 or direct emissions are released by activities at company facilities.
  • Scope 2 or indirect emissions is the global standard addressing how a company measures its emissions (purchased or acquired) from the electricity, steam, heat and cooling.
  • Scope 3 or value chain emissions, are the result of activities from assets not owned but indirectly impact the company’s value chain.

Science Based Net-Zero Target Initiative (SBTI), 2021

In September 2020, we committed to achieve targets under the SBTI.

Managing Director Mark Bertoncello commented “Diamond Energy is meeting and exceeding its SBTI commitment to reduce its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions below 30% by 2030”*.

“We are proud to have set our target at the lowest possible formal target of “1.5 degrees” and commit to reduce absolute Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 GHG emissions by 2030 from a 2018 base year.

Our generation assets, since inception, avoid more emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent CO2 gases than is required just for generation alone. Our renewable generation assets, owned or affiliated, allow the avoidance of additional, significant methane emissions. The consequence of this growing portfolio is that since inception, we have contributed additional CO2e avoidance beyond that required by ‘zero’ impact renewable generation.

DE states that it is ‘meeting and exceeding’ its SBTI goal. DE has set a goal for 2030 which is better than its 2018 baseline on an absolute emission basis.

The Letter of Opinion Auditing Diamond Energy’s Renewable Energy and Emission Footprint Performance, April 2024 can be seen here.

^Independent Letter of Opinion Auditing Diamond Energy’s Renewable Energy and Emission Footprint (2007-23). 
*AEMO Carbon Emissions Intensity Index Data, www.aemo.com.au 
**Environment Victoria, Yallourn, Australia's dirtiest power, www.environmentvictoria.org.au 
***Science Based Targets Initiative, www.sciencebasedtargets.org