Electricity can make a real difference to the results of a cement or concrete EPD. The mix you choose needs to be accurate and to follow the rules of your PCR. This article explains the options in the GCCA EPD Tool and how to pick the right one.
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The default mix
When you create an EPD, you select a country. The tool uses it to set a default electricity mix for manufacturing. The default is a starting point, not a recommendation.
Replace it with better data
We strongly recommend using the latest national mix, or the actual mix supplied to your site, wherever you have it. You can overwrite the default mix source by source.
To make data entry easier, the tool accepts a total between 99.9% and 100.1%. It then normalises the mix to 100%.
New in Version 6
- Voltage level. You can now choose low, medium or high voltage electricity for manufacturing. Pick the level at which your plant is connected.
- Construction stage (A5). For electricity used on site during installation, you can choose between a country mix and a GCCA regional mix.
Market-based and location-based results
PCR 2019:14 follows EN 15941 and uses a market-based approach for electricity bought from the grid. In short:
- You can only claim a specific supply, such as renewable electricity, if it is backed by contractual instruments that meet the tracking and quality rules.
- Electricity bought without such instruments is modelled with the residual mix. This is the mix left once all claimed renewable electricity has been removed.
- You may also declare alternative results based on the location-based mix, in a separate section of the EPD.
Keep your supply contracts and certificates ready. Your verifier will ask to see them.
Quick checklist
- Use your actual or national mix, not the default, when you can.
- Choose the voltage level that matches your connection.
- Only claim renewable electricity that is backed by valid certificates.
- Check that the electricity and fuel balance shown in the tool looks consistent.
Want to see how electricity affects your results? Request a demonstration of the GCCA EPD Tool.
