Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Flashcards

What is the key role of a Measurement & Verification (M&V) plan in an energy efficiency project?

Answer: To quantify actual energy savings achieved compared to an established baseline after project implementation

M&V establishes a pre-project baseline and uses defined protocols (such as IPMVP) to measure actual post-installation savings against that baseline.

Under the GHG Protocol, which Scope covers emissions from purchased electricity consumed by a company?

Answer: Scope 2

Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat, or cooling consumed by the reporting company.

A utility offers a 'Critical Peak Pricing' (CPP) tariff. How does this tariff structure incentivize demand reduction?

Answer: It charges significantly higher rates during a limited number of pre-announced peak hours, incentivizing customers to reduce load

CPP tariffs apply very high rates during designated critical peak hours (typically 10-15 days per year), creating a strong price signal to reduce consumption.

What is the difference between 'market-based' and 'location-based' methods for reporting Scope 2 emissions?

Answer: Market-based uses contractual instruments like RECs and green tariffs; location-based uses the average emission factor for the grid where electricity is consumed

The GHG Protocol allows both methods: market-based reflects actual contractual choices (RECs, green tariffs), while location-based uses regional grid average emission factors.

Which type of energy storage technology is most commonly paired with utility-scale renewable energy projects in the US to address intermittency?

Answer: Lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS)

Lithium-ion BESS has become the dominant storage technology paired with utility-scale solar and wind due to falling costs and rapid deployment capability.

In corporate sustainability reporting, what does the acronym 'TCFD' stand for and what does it primarily address?

Answer: Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures; it addresses how companies should disclose climate-related financial risks and opportunities

TCFD provides a framework for companies to disclose climate-related risks and opportunities in financial filings, covering governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics.

A facility procures electricity under a 'slice-of-system' PPA structure. What does this mean?

Answer: The buyer purchases a proportional share of output from an existing renewable facility rather than a fixed price per MWh

In a slice-of-system PPA, the buyer receives a percentage of total project output (variable MWh) rather than a fixed volume at a set price.