Carbon Intensity
Carbon intensity is the amount of CO₂ emitted per unit of output — for example tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of product or per MWh. Lowering it is the core goal of decarbonization, achieved through efficiency, cleaner fuels and electrification.
Carbon intensity normalises emissions by production, allowing fair comparison between sites and tracking of decarbonization progress independent of output volume. It is increasingly reported for compliance and customer requirements, and is reduced by the same measures that cut energy use — efficiency first, then heat recovery, electrification and fuel switching.
Related terms
Industrial Decarbonization · EU ETS · CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) · Energy Management System (EnMS / EMS)
Related guides
Factory decarbonization: a practical roadmap
A sequenced, no-regrets roadmap for cutting industrial emissions — efficiency first, then electrification and fuel switching, then the hard residual.
The EU ETS explained for industrial operators
How the EU Emissions Trading System works, who it covers, and why the rising carbon price makes industrial efficiency a financial issue, not just an environmental one.
Software
Where this applies
Adopting renewable power purchase agreements for Scope 2 · Transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants · Green vs Blue Hydrogen · Hydrogen vs Heat Pump for Industrial Heat · Hydrogen Boiler vs Electric Boiler · PEM vs Alkaline Electrolyser · State of AI in the Chemical Industry 2026 · State of Green Hydrogen in Industry 2026