Frequently asked questions

Nowtricity uses the life cycle CO2 equivalent to define each energy source global warming potencial. These have been defined in the Carbon Neutrality in the UNECE Region 2022 (LCIA results for region EUR) and IPCC 2014 (AR5). These reports take into account infrastructure and supply chain emissions. For waste emissions an average is used based on data available in The impact of Waste-to-Energyincineration on climate report.

Energy production not defined (Other) can be anything from trash incineration, co-generation to sewage gas burning. Waste emissions are assumed in that case.

Up to 2022 emission data for the following energy types were based on data from the IPCC 2014 (AR5) report.

This means that clean renewable sources of energy have emissions simply because of manufacturing and maintenance emissions, but their direct emissions are actually zero.

Since CO2eq/Kwh is used, it takes into account the manufacturing and installation emissions. This means that Wind has an emission value of 12 g CO2eq/Kwh and Solar 37 g CO2eq/Kwh, but their direct emissions are actually zero.

Hydro aggregates run of the river and reservoir dams. The emissions are the same for Hydro Storage but it makes sense to show it separately. One of the arguments against renewable energy is that we won't have enough electricity to power our homes or electric cars when there's no sun or wind.

Hydro storage acts as a huge battery, pumping water from one reservoir to the other producing energy when other renewable sources are low, and does the opposite at night or whenever the renewable energy production (usually wind or solar) is high, saving that energy for later.

Check these videos on YouTube by Tom Scott and Practical Engineering to learn more about hydro pumped storage.

In some countries the local grid data can include the forecast for Wind and Solar production in the next hours. Nowtricity uses that data when available and shows you the current solar and wind production and the forecast for the next hours. If the value is higher you can save on emissions by using your electric appliances later, of in the opposite case, plugging in now to save on emissions.