This is a strong step toward aligning accounting with how flexible data centres actually operate.
Time-averaged Scope 2 metrics clearly fail to reflect the real impact of load shifting and grid-aware operation. Moving to hourly and marginal factors is a necessary correction.
That said, as several lifecycle studies have shown, Scope 3 (particularly IT and infrastructure embodied carbon) will dominate in many data centre contexts.
The next challenge is connecting time-aware Scope 2 signals with Scope 3 trade-offs: utilisation, refresh cycles, capacity planning, and the decision not to build.
Without that link, we risk optimising carbon reporting faster than we optimise the systems themselves.
This is a strong step toward aligning accounting with how flexible data centres actually operate. Time-averaged Scope 2 metrics clearly fail to reflect the real impact of load shifting and grid-aware operation. Moving to hourly and marginal factors is a necessary correction. That said, as several lifecycle studies have shown, Scope 3 (particularly IT and infrastructure embodied carbon) will dominate in many data centre contexts. The next challenge is connecting time-aware Scope 2 signals with Scope 3 trade-offs: utilisation, refresh cycles, capacity planning, and the decision not to build. Without that link, we risk optimising carbon reporting faster than we optimise the systems themselves.