Emissions Response: Efficient Decarbonization Using Real-Time Data

In this article, we introduce emissions response, the widespread use of real-time emissions factors in electricity grids as a signal for a dynamic response to facilitate decarbonization and system efficiency. Many articles and publications have suggested dynamic approaches to addressing systemwide emissions, reducing emissions through time-sensitive consumption, and aiding in the adoption of renewable and low-emissions technologies. With emissions response, we combine, broaden, and formalize these concepts as effective means of encouraging and regulating the energy transition with benefits to grid systems at large as well as individual stakeholders in generation, consumption, and storage. We provide an overview where real-time emissions factors serve as a metric toward grid efficiency, recognizing and promoting technologies that provide long-term stability along with technologies driving decarbonization.