The Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) describes residual mix as:
'..the energy source mix that is left over once the reliably tracked consumption is taken out from the generation mix. Residual mix is used for the purpose that if end user is sourcing electricity from unknown origin, the energy source mix of it shall be considered as Residual mix. Residual mix is an integral part of Guarantee of Origin system for preventing double counting in energy source disclosure.' (AIB, 2020)
A simplified way of looking at residual mix factors, is to see them as emission factors that represent emissions from unclaimed energy in the local energy grid. These factors are determined by subtracting the renewable energy attributes already claimed by others (through renewable energy certificates) from the energy grid's average emission factor. To learn more about residual mix factors we recommended reading more about them on AIB's site.
When are they used?
Residual mix factors are used to calculate market-based emissions under Scope 2: Purchased electricity when uploaded data fulfils all of these requirements:
Has no green energy certificates (like RECs)
Is not using supplier-specific emission factors
Is not using on-site renewable
Is consuming grid electricity in the EU.
Since claimed and cancelled renewable electricity attributes have been excluded, market-based emissions using residual mix factors will typically be higher than the location-based emissions associated with the same data.
Full list of EU Countries with residual mix factors
Cells marked with “1” means there is a residual mix factor available
Cells marked in dark grey mean there is not residual mix factor available
start_date | 2015-01-01 | 2016-01-01 | 2017-01-01 | 2018-01-01 | 2019-01-01 | 2020-01-01 | 2021-01-01 | 2022-01-01 | 2023-01-01 |
location\end_date | 2015-12-31 | 2016-12-31 | 2017-12-31 | 2018-12-31 | 2019-12-31 | 2020-12-31 | 2021-12-31 | 2022-12-31 | 2050-12-31 |
AT | 1 | 1 |
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BA |
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| 1 | 1 | 1 |
BE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
BG | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
CH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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CY | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
CZ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
DE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
DK | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
ES | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FR | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
GB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
GR | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
HR | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
HU | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
IE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
IS | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
IT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
LT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
LU | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
LV | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
ME |
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| 1 | 1 | 1 |
MT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
NL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
NO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
PL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
PT | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
RO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
RS |
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| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
SE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
SI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
SK | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Why are they used?
The purpose of residual mix factors is to prevent double-counting of renewable energy attributes. When companies claim renewable energy through contractual instruments such as renewable energy certificates (RECs), the remaining grid electricity must reflect a higher emission factor. This adjustment ensures that the clean energy attributes claimed by one company are not unintentionally attributed to others.
This approach is consistent with EU reporting frameworks, such as the GHG protocol (p.56).