Primary Energy Source (OI3781)

This metric is intended to capture a description of the primary source(s) of energy produced, sold, or purchased by the organization during the reporting period.

Organizations are encouraged to reference, where applicable, how the technical aspects of energy production align with established frameworks and standards (Such as GRI 302: Energy 2016). For instance, they might assess whether natural gas facilities meet the specifications outlined in the EU Taxonomy.

Organizations are moreover encouraged to include other important contextual information. Examples of additional information needed may include:

• For nuclear energy production, this could include details on how waste is generated and treated.
• For hydropower, it is important to consider whether it is produced by large-scale facilities that could adversely affect natural ecosystems, and which are sometimes excluded from the definition of renewable energy. Organizations can refer to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute for further guidance on low-impact hydropower operations.
• For biomass, organizations should examine whether its production is associated with large-scale deforestation and its potential adverse effects on biodiversity.

• For nuclear energy production, this could include details on how waste is generated and treated.
• For hydropower, it is important to consider whether it is produced by large-scale facilities that could adversely affect natural ecosystems, and which are sometimes excluded from the definition of renewable energy. Organizations can refer to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (http://lowimpacthydro.org) for further guidance on low-impact hydropower operations.
• For biomass, organizations should examine whether its production is associated with large-scale deforestation and its potential adverse effects on biodiversity.

This disaggregation, applied to another metric, is intended to capture the share of that metric which comes from the selected primary energy source(s). For example, the disaggregation "Biomass" when applied to Energy Generated for Sale (PI8706) would include the amount of renewable biomass energy sold by the organization during the reporting period.