CO₂-Monitor – Hourly emission factors for the German electricity mix
The emissions intensity of the electricity mix fluctuates over the course of the day, partly due to the increased use of renewable energies. In the CO2-Monitor project, FfE and TenneT have developed a method and platform to provide hourly greenhouse gas (GHG) emission factors for the German electricity mix. The stands out due to the transparent balancing methodology, which has already been tested and confirmed by TÜV SÜD, and the focus on applicability for relevant use cases. During the project, the use cases were identified in a comprehensive stakeholder dialogue and the associated requirements for the CO2-Monitor were determined. The stakeholder dialogue created an ecosystem that will be continued in an implementation network. This will also lay the foundation for the joint development of an industry standard.
CO2-Monitor Platform
The CO2-Monitor provides hourly GHG emission factors as well as a forecast and the share of renewable energies. The tested methodology and the application for various use cases are presented on the website. The data is also made available via a machine-readable interface (API) or as a download.
Application of CO2-Monitor data
The CO2-Monitor, developed by FfE and TenneT, is a scalable platform that is based on the current state of the art and has the basic functionality required to cover the most important use cases for high-resolution emission factors of electricity over time. In a comprehensive dialogue with stakeholders, numerous use cases in the areas of “verification and reporting”, “flexibilization and GHG reduction” and “future-oriented GHG balance” were identified and converted into requirements for the CO2-Monitor. On this basis, a prototype was developed that serves as the basis for the provision of highly-resolved emission factors for the German electricity mix.
The data provided by the CO2-Monitor can be used in various areas, as the following examples illustrate:
Sustainability reporting (corporate carbon footprint): The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) means that many companies will be obliged to report on sustainability in the future. One component is the company’s GHG emissions, which also include the GHG emissions from electricity procurement, including the upstream and downstream emissions of the plants and fuels (so-called Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions). Companies need reliable data for reporting in order to verify their GHG emissions. The CO2-Monitor makes it possible to build on transparent and trustworthy data, which has been confirmed by TÜV SÜD. Reliable verification can therefore be assured.
Life cycle assessment of products (product carbon footprint): Life cycle assessment is an important method for assessing the sustainability of economic activities in the EU taxonomy, among other things. Here, the hourly emission factors from the CO2-Monitor can be used to determine the carbon footprint of products. The use of hourly emission factors from the electricity mix can make a difference here, especially for flexible but electricity-intensive products.
Flexibilization and GHG reduction: The CO2-Monitor offers the opportunity to react flexibly to the emissions intensity of the electricity mix and thus reduce GHG emissions. By knowing the current and next 24-hour emissions, companies can take targeted measures to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to the fight against climate change.

Would you like to integrate CO2-Monitor data for your application?
We would be happy to support you.
With the help of training courses, we enable you to build up expertise in your company. We also help you with the methodological and IT integration of the data into your individual use case. Does your use case require further development of the methodology and database? We are also interested in this – please contact us directly.
Further Information
- Daily updated specific Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the German Electricity Mix – FfE
- Series of articles on methods of sustainability assessment: Life cycle assessment – FfE
- Series of articles on methods of sustainability assessment: “Scopes 1 – 3” in corporate evaluation – FfE
- Info: What is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)? – FfE
- Challenges for companies in 2023: Sustainability reporting in the light of life cycle assessment and the circular economy as part of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Strategy – FfE