Greenhouse gases reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme include:
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane (CH4)
- nitrous oxide (N2O)
- sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
- specified kinds of hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons.
When estimating greenhouse gas emissions, reporters must use applicable methods under the NGER Scheme.
Types of emissions
There are 3 types of greenhouse gas emissions. Your reporting requirements under NGER may vary depending on the type of emissions.
Scope 1 emissions: "direct" emissions
Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are emissions released into the atmosphere as a direct result of the activities at your facility. For example:
- emissions from the use of refrigerants in air conditioning units
- emissions from fuels used in transport
- fugitive emissions, such as methane leaks from coal mines
- production of electricity by burning coal.
Scope 1 emissions are also referred to as direct emissions.
Scope 2 emissions: "indirect" emissions
Scope 2 emissions for a facility represent the emissions that were released outside your facility boundary to produce the electricity that you imported into the facility and used. For example, a cement factory which uses electricity from an external electricity grid to run its business would report scope 2 emissions.
In this example, the emissions are directly produced by grid-connected power stations that burn fuel to create the electricity which is then supplied to the grid (and would be reported by these power stations as scope 1 emissions). The grid electricity used by the cement factory, and the associated scope 2 emissions, would be reported by the cement factory.
Scope 2 emissions are also referred to as indirect emissions.
Scope 3 emissions: broader indirect emissions
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions other than scope 2 emissions. They occur outside of the boundary of your organisation as a result of your actions.
Scope 3 emissions may occur:
- upstream, such as the emissions generated in the extraction and production of fossil fuels
- downstream, such as the emissions from transport of your products.
Reporting emissions under NGER
You must report scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Scope 3 emissions are not reportable under NGER. However, you can use the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors to estimate scope 3 emissions.
You only need to report on activities if there is an applicable method in the NGER Measurement Determination.
Types of energy
You can produce or consume energy, either as a fuel, or as an energy commodity.
Types of energy reported under NGER include:
- fossil fuels and coal based products
- fuels derived from recycled materials
- biogases
- petroleum-based oils and greases
- biofuels.
Schedule 1 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008 lists fuels and other energy commodities.
Energy production
You produce energy when you either:
- extract or capture energy from natural resources, such as fossil fuels
- convert energy from one form to another, such as from solar energy to electricity.
Energy consumption
You consume energy when you use or dispose of it. This includes when energy is purposely used, such as combusting fuel to operate machinery, as well as when energy is lost, such as during the handling of energy.
Reporting energy under NGER
You must report the total amount of energy. This includes the transformation of energy from one form into another.
However, you only need to report energy if there is an applicable method in the NGER Measurement Determination.
To learn more download our reporting energy production and consumption guideline.