UK DESNZ: Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020

General
Sumday Concise Name	UK DESNZ 2020
Description	Annually the UK Government published an Emission Factor dataset for UK businesses to use in the preparation of voluntary reporting or disclosures under SECR. This dataset represents the 2020 release.
Citation	UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. (2020). Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2020. Author.
Source Type	Government/ International Organisation
Methodology	Conversion Factors 2020: Methodology
Geography	United Kingdom, General
Source URL	Conversion factors 2020: full set (for advanced users)
Date Last Updated	17/07/2020
Default Effective Date - Start	01/01/2020
Default Effective Date - End	31/12/2020
Notes on dates	The source provides the following guidance on applying these factors to your GHG Inventory: By default EFs are effective for the calendar year Where the reporting period ends part way through the calendar year, organisations should adopt the annual factors that cover the majority of the calendar year (e.g a period ending 31/03/23 would use the 2022 factors). For reporting periods ending 30 June, entities should use the most recent calendar year’s EFs
Release Frequency	Annual
Sector	Multiple
GHG Protocol Scope	Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3
GHG Protocol Sub-Category	Mobile Combustion Stationary Combustion Fugitive Emissions Electricity Scope 2: Other Purchased Goods and Services Capital Goods Fuel- and energy-related activities Transportation and distribution Waste Generated in Operations Business Travel Employee Commuting End-of-Life Disposal
Type of Data	Activity Based
Boundary	Cradle-to-Gate Well-to-Tank
GHG Outputs	CO2e CO2 (limited) CH4 (limited) NO2 (limited)
Spend-Base Info
Source Currency	N/A
Time Value Base Year	N/A
Transformations in Source Data	N/A
Inflation adjusted by Sumday by default	N/A
Data Quality
Data Quality assessed quantitatively by Source	No
What the source says about its data quality	Source publishes a detailed methodology paper with each release, however data quality or uncertainty has not been qualified by the source.
Sumday’s take	The emissions factors published by UK DESNZ are activity based factors, compiled by a reputable governmental source and are released frequently ensuring changes in the latest scientific understanding are incorporated. These factors would indicate a relatively high level of data quality, however it is important to note that they are still based on average data and that judgement should always be used in in the selection of emissions factors, especially if the dataset does not directly relate to geographic
License
Type of License	Open Government License
License URL	Link
Sumday’s take	Use these factors to your hearts content, just remember to cite the good folks in the UK government