INDIA GRID EMISSION FACTOR
CEA CO2 Baseline Database, by fiscal year
India's grid emission factor is 0.675 tCO2/MWh for FY 2025-26 (CEA v22.0) and 0.71 tCO2/MWh for FY 2024-25 (CEA v21.0). Use the factor for the year the electricity was consumed.
Weighted average grid emission factor by year
The all-India weighted average, including renewables and adjusted for cross-border electricity transfers. This is the location-based Scope 2 factor for corporate GHG inventories and SEBI BRSR Core.
| Fiscal year of use | tCO2/MWh (= kg CO2/kWh) | CEA edition |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2025-26 | 0.675 | CO2 Baseline Database v22.0 (August 2026) |
| FY 2024-25 | 0.710 | CO2 Baseline Database v21.0 (December 2025); v22.0 restates it unchanged |
Operating, build and combined margins
These margins are baselines for CDM and carbon-credit projects, such as a solar plant claiming the emissions it displaces. Do not use them for corporate Scope 2: they measure a different thing.
| Margin | FY 2024-25 (v21.0) | FY 2025-26 (v22.0) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple operating margin (OM) | 0.961 | 0.963 |
| Build margin (BM) | 0.512 | 0.446 |
| Combined margin (CM, 50:50) | 0.736 | 0.705 |
tCO2/MWh. Sources: CEA user guides v21.0 and v22.0.
Power-sector fuel emission factors
The fuel factors CEA applies to power stations, on a gross calorific value basis. For a captive boiler or DG set, multiply the fuel's energy content in GJ by these factors.
| Fuel | kg CO2 per GJ (GCV) |
|---|---|
| Indian coal | 90.6 |
| Imported coal | 85.2 |
| Lignite | 100.5 |
| Natural gas | 49.4 |
| Fuel oil | 71.9 |
| Diesel | 69.1 |
| Naphtha | 66 |
Calculate Scope 2 from a DISCOM bill
- Take the active energy in kWh from each bill. Not kVAh: apparent energy overstates emissions when the power factor is low.
- Pick the factor for the fiscal year of the billing period: 0.675 for April 2025 to March 2026, 0.71 for April 2024 to March 2025.
- Multiply. 10,000 kWh in FY 2025-26 is 10,000 x 0.675 = 6,750 kg CO2 (6.75 t).
curl -X POST https://zerocarbon.org.in/api/v1/calculate/electricity \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"kwh": 10000, "country_code": "IN"}'Questions
What is the CEA grid emission factor for 2026?
For electricity used in FY 2025-26 (April 2025 to March 2026) it is 0.675 tCO2/MWh, the all-India weighted average in CEA's CO2 Baseline Database v22.0, published in August 2026. That is 0.675 kg CO2 per kWh.
Which CEA factor should I use for Scope 2 and BRSR?
The weighted average for the fiscal year in which the electricity was consumed. It is the location-based Scope 2 factor under the GHG Protocol and the one BRSR Core disclosures normally use. The operating, build and combined margins are for CDM and carbon-credit project baselines, not corporate Scope 2.
Why is the FY 2025-26 factor lower than FY 2024-25?
The weighted average follows that year's generation mix: a lower value means each unit of grid electricity carried less CO2 on average. Earlier years are not revised retroactively: v22.0 restates FY 2024-25 at 0.710, so records for that year keep 0.710.
Is there a state-wise grid emission factor in India?
Since India's regional grids were integrated, CEA publishes one national grid factor. A state or DISCOM value is not an official CEA figure, so for BRSR and GHG Protocol reporting use the national weighted average unless you hold a contractual instrument for market-based Scope 2.
How do I calculate Scope 2 emissions from my electricity bill?
Multiply the active energy in kWh (not kVAh) by the factor for the bill's fiscal year. For example, 10,000 kWh in FY 2025-26 is 10,000 x 0.675 = 6,750 kg CO2, or 6.75 tonnes.