Electrical Utilities Criteria

The Electrical Utilities Criteria provide a framework for certifying entities and debt instruments based on their emission intensity and transition pathways. It defines specific thresholds for existing and new capacity across various technologies, including fossil fuels and renewables, while integrating cross-cutting requirements for carbon capture, hydrogen, and bioenergy. The criteria also mandate adaptation and resilience risk assessments to ensure long-term operational viability under climate change.

• The criteria define a specific CO2 emission intensity transition pathway for the power sector to reach net-zero by 2040, with benchmarks starting at 460 gCO2/kWh in 2025 and dropping to 0 gCO2/kWh by 2045.
• Entity certification is divided into two tiers: 'Aligned' (Level 1), where targets meet sector criteria at the time of certification, and 'Transitioning' (Level 2), where targets must align by 30 December 2030.
• For existing fossil fuel capacity, unabated coal plants must be phased out by 2030 in advanced economies and by 2040 in emerging economies, unless they implement 100% low-carbon fuel cofiring or 90% carbon capture and storage (CCS).
• New low-carbon capacity must meet stricter emission thresholds than existing capacity; for hydropower, geothermal, and bioenergy, the limit for new facilities is 50 gCO2e/kWh, compared to 100 gCO2e/kWh for existing ones.

APA

Climate Bonds Initiative (2024). Electrical Utilities Criteria. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/cbs-electrical-utility-criteria-v1_0.pdf

Chicago

Climate Bonds Initiative. Electrical Utilities Criteria. 2024. https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/cbs-electrical-utility-criteria-v1_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Bonds Initiative |title=Electrical Utilities Criteria |date=March 2024 |url=https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/cbs-electrical-utility-criteria-v1_0.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatebondsinitiative2024electrical, author = {{Climate Bonds Initiative}}, title = {{Electrical Utilities Criteria}}, institution = {Climate Bonds Initiative}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://www.climatebonds.net/files/drupal-files/files/cbs-electrical-utility-criteria-v1_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }