![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/12\/GE22-114-B2B-Carbon-Emissions-Infographic-02-002-1024x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nGreenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 was last updated in 2015. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the current approach, businesses that are on an annual, REGO-backed tariff can legitimately label all of their electricity usage as zero-carbon \u2013 regardless of when and where that associated power was generated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
There is a growing recognition that this current approach fails to reflect what\u2019s actually happening on the power system, leaving gaps in credibility and transparency. And while it has driven renewable investment, it\u2019s created some unintended outcomes, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- A system that doesn\u2019t reflect how electricity is actually used. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- The ability to claim 100% renewable, zero-carbon supply even when consumption occurs during the most carbon-intensive hours. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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- A megawatt hour generated hundreds of miles away is treated the same as one procured locally. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The proposed Scope 2 reforms address this by making hourly matching<\/strong> and location<\/strong> central: electricity will only count as zero-carbon if it is consumed in the same hour it is generated from a matched renewable source. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Likely to come into effect in 2027, these changes will create a more resilient renewables system that strengthens the credibility of zero-carbon claims, drives finance to the right areas and helps to lower the system cost for everyone. <\/strong>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRead our article: Scope 2 reforms explained<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nHow will this impact data centres? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
All electricity users will feel the impact of Scope 2 changes, but data centres are uniquely exposed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are large consumers, with continuous loads, whose power demand does not flex naturally with renewable generation. They attract intense scrutiny from planners, local communities and investors, and are often used as examples – fairly or unfairly – in broader debates about energy system strain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_1435523620-data-centre-1024x767.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s more, data centres that cannot evidence their renewable credentials risk missing out on the customers they need to grow. Major technology companies now expect providers to demonstrate a truly time-matched renewable energy supply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A procurement strategy that relies on annual certificates and generic green claims will become harder to defend in this environment. Data centres will need to adapt their approach because the reporting framework is catching up with system reality. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is the risk of traditional flexible procurement? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many data centre energy contracts were not designed with future Scope 2 expectations in mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flex contracts where power is bought in tradeable blocks prioritise price hedging and budget control but offer very little visibility of time-based emissions. Standard flex tariffs often rely on unbundled certificates with limited additionality. And the reporting this offers is typically retrospective and high-level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under proposed Scope 2 changes, these structures may still be compliant, but they will look increasingly weak when placed alongside more granular, system-aligned approaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This creates a strategic risk. While compliance won\u2019t disappear overnight, not shifting approach is likely to erode your credibility with investors, customers, and planning authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n\n\n “Not shifting approach creates a strategic risk – eroding your credibility with investors, customers and planning authorities.” <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\nWhat does a future-proofed energy strategy look like? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s easy to treat Scope 2 reform as a future problem. But procurement decisions made now can often lock in structures for years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Data centre operators that move early have more choice and more credibility when expectations tighten. And those who don\u2019t may find themselves retrofitting solutions onto contracts that were never designed for this level of scrutiny. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the questions you should be asking your energy supplier: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n- \n
- How closely does renewable generation align with your demand, hour by hour? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Can your supplier provide transparent, auditable data to prove it? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Where are the assets located relative to your site? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Can contracts evolve as reporting standards change? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/06\/Energy-generation-large-scale-wind_AdobeStock_208070773x1280-1024x767.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nGood Energy helps businesses meet these expectations. Through our partnership with Granular Energy and our network of over 3,000 independent UK generators, we consistently achieve around 90% hourly matching between supply and demand, with auditable, real time data to prove it. This is independently verified by the Matched Clean Power Index, where we rank #1 in the UK in 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An hourly-matched energy supply gives data centres confidence in their zero-carbon claims, transparent reporting, and stronger sustainability credentials – providing a competitive edge even before tighter Scope 2 rules take effect. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nFind out more about Hourly Matching with Good Energy<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat comes next? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the next article, we will address the wider narrative around data centres and energy. Much of the negative coverage focuses on demand alone.\u00a0In reality, with\u00a0the right procurement and management, data centres can be not just compliant, but genuinely\u00a0positive contributors\u00a0to the UK power system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final article will move from theory to practice, showing how a UK data centre is using Good Energy\u2019s\u00a0hourly-matched renewable electricity\u00a0to make its energy supply resilient to Scope 2 changes\u00a0and win more customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scope 2 change is coming – the question is how quickly you act to capture the commercial and reputational opportunities it creates. Get in touch today to explore how we can future proof your data centre with an hourly-matched energy supply. <\/p>\n\n\n
\n\n\nPower your business the greener way<\/h2> \n
\n Contract options to suit every business, including Fixed, CPPA, Index-linked and Flex. <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n \n \n Enquire today <\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n \nYou might also like<\/p>\n<\/h2> \n \n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDecarbonising AI: Renewable energy solutions for data centres<\/a><\/h2> \n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n by<\/span> \n Tom Parsons <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/span> on <\/span>17\/06\/25<\/span>6 mins read<\/span> <\/div>\n \n\n \n in <\/span> \n Commercial Solar <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/span> <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
- Can contracts evolve as reporting standards change? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Where are the assets located relative to your site? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Can your supplier provide transparent, auditable data to prove it? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- How closely does renewable generation align with your demand, hour by hour? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A megawatt hour generated hundreds of miles away is treated the same as one procured locally. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The ability to claim 100% renewable, zero-carbon supply even when consumption occurs during the most carbon-intensive hours. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_1435523620-data-centre-768x575.jpeg\")
<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n ![\"Aerial](\"https:\/\/www.goodenergy.co.uk\/business\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/Energy-generation-large-scale-wind_AdobeStock_122935623-768x512.jpeg\")
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