Energy, Carbon and Certificate Glossary

Understand the terms behind project and reporting decisions

The glossary explains common abbreviations and concepts used in energy efficiency, emissions accounting, environmental certificates and government schemes. Definitions provide a starting point; programme rules, reporting standards and market instruments can change, so use the current governing document for a formal decision.

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What is an ACCU?

An ACCU is a unit issued to a person by the Clean Energy Regulator (Regulator) by making an entry for the unit in an account. An Australian Carbon Credit Unit represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent stored or avoided by an eligible scheme project. ACCUs belong to their own programme and should not be compared as though they were identical units to other instruments like ESCs or LGCs. The ACCU Scheme applies methods, registration and reporting requirements to particular projects, but does not issue credits for every reduction shown in a company's emissions inventory.

What does CO₂-e mean and why is it important in emissions reporting?

CO₂-e expresses greenhouse gases on a carbon-dioxide-equivalent basis using a stated methodology. This common measurement allows different greenhouse gases with varying atmospheric impacts to be compared on an equivalent scale. CO₂-e is essential for corporate Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions categorisation and for reporting under frameworks like NGER (National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting). When establishing environmental claims or assessing reporting obligations, the methodology used to calculate CO₂-e equivalents must be clearly stated and consistently applied.

What is the difference between Energy Savings Certificates and Renewable Energy Certificates?

Energy Savings Certificates (ESCs) are created by Accredited Certificate Providers under the NSW Energy Savings Scheme for eligible energy-saving activities. Renewable Energy Certificates include LGCs (Large-scale Generation Certificates), STCs (Small-scale Technology Certificates) and REGOs (Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin), each with different eligibility, creation and use rules. These instrument families serve different purposes: ESCs represent verified energy reductions, while renewable certificates represent renewable electricity attributes. Each belongs to its own programme with distinct scheme requirements, and they should not be treated as interchangeable units. We provide assessment and support across multiple certificate types.

What is Measurement and Verification (M&V) and when is it required?

Measurement and Verification is the process of using measurements to reliably determine savings resulting from an energy management program, since savings cannot be directly measured. M&V is a project-based methodology that quantifies energy efficiency improvements by comparing pre- and post-upgrade energy information to evaluate eligible activities and determine project savings. M&V is essential for energy certificate schemes including NSW ESS and Victorian Energy Upgrades, where the baseline establishes representative pre-project conditions and defines how changes in operating conditions will be treated. Early planning of measurement boundaries, data collection and verification approaches protects project eligibility and evidence quality. We provide comprehensive M&V services including project-boundary selection, baseline modelling, savings calculation and reporting.

What does it mean if a project has 'Newness' requirements, and why does this matter?

Newness requirements determine whether a project is eligible under the ACCU Scheme by establishing that significant investment or asset commitments have not already been made before registration. The Clean Energy Regulator distinguishes preparatory work from actions indicating commencement, including final investment or asset commitments. Projects generally must be registered before activities start unless the method provides otherwise. Newness requirements exist to ensure ACCUs are issued for genuine new abatement rather than retroactively crediting already-planned investments. Understanding the precise stage of a project—feasibility approval, final investment decision, purchase commitment, installation, or commissioning—is critical for preserving eligibility and funding options.

What is an 'Opportunity Register' and what should it contain?

An Opportunity Register is a documented list of proposed energy efficiency measures identified during an energy audit. It serves as a practical planning tool that records each opportunity with its boundary, estimated energy effect, assumptions, implementation dependencies, evidence quality and next decision. The register keeps energy savings, tariff savings, maintenance benefits and certificate revenue separate, allowing management to understand each improvement's distinct contributions. Tracking interactions between measures—such as how insulation reduces heating load and changes the economics of replacement systems—prevents double-counting benefits. An effective Opportunity Register enables priority-setting and accountability by assigning owners to selected opportunities and defining what must be resolved before investment approval.

What are the key differences between NGER, Safeguard and Sustainability Reporting obligations?

NGER (National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting) and Safeguard are separate Australian reporting regimes with different thresholds and assessment methodologies that must be kept distinct. NGER facility thresholds are 25,000 tonnes CO₂-e or 100 TJ; corporate thresholds are 50,000 tonnes or 200 TJ. Safeguard covers facilities exceeding 100,000 tonnes CO2-e of covered emissions per year, assessed against an applicable baseline. Sustainability reporting applies different entity and financial-year tests under Chapter 2M obligations. Corporate structure, operational control and reporting period are essential to assessing each regime separately. Using shared underlying data is appropriate, but each output must be documented and reconciled independently rather than collapsed into one threshold.

What is the relationship between baseline conditions and project savings calculations?

A baseline establishes the defined reference—representative pre-project conditions—against which change is evaluated in energy projects. It is essential to Measurement and Verification because savings are calculated as the difference between what energy use would have been without intervention under comparable conditions and the actual post-project consumption. Baselines must account for how changes in operating conditions will be treated; a lower electricity bill alone does not constitute complete savings evidence because bills can fall due to production decline, shortened operating hours, weather changes or price changes. NSW M&V guidance emphasises establishing baselines before equipment changes and documenting adjustments for relevant operating differences. Proper baseline definition protects project evidence quality and certificate scheme compliance.

What is moREnewable100 and how does it differ from other renewable electricity procurement approaches?

moREnewable100 is a Northmore Gordon service for procuring renewable energy certificates without changing existing electricity supply contracts. It provides multi-site coverage, procurement flexibility, RE100-aligned sourcing and technology/due-diligence support. Unlike direct renewable electricity contracts that replace existing arrangements, moREnewable100 allows organisations to acquire renewable attributes through separate certificate procurement. The service operates within GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance frameworks, which distinguish market-based accounting for purchased electricity from physical energy reductions. The exact instrument, market, period and intended claim—whether renewable-electricity attribution, market-based Scope 2 accounting or voluntary commitment—must be established for each engagement to ensure certificates support the organisation's stated environmental objective.

What information should be included in a Project Brief when engaging Northmore Gordon?

A Project Brief should identify the organisation and site, the country and relevant Australian state, your role and decision deadline. Include a short description of existing equipment or the reporting problem, and state whether work is proposed, contracted, installed, commissioned or already operating. Attach available energy history or equipment summaries rather than waiting for perfect data, clearly distinguishing estimates from measured information. For certificate projects, disclose previous incentives and who owns energy-saving or renewable-electricity attributes. The brief provides Northmore Gordon with sufficient context to assess eligibility, recommend the appropriate assessment pathway and confirm service availability. The team can then advise on measurement planning, funding assessment and scheme eligibility based on the specific situation described.

How do the common energy and power units convert?

Power, measured in kW or MW, is the rate of energy use or output at a point in time or over a specified interval. Energy, measured in kWh or MWh, is an amount of energy consumed or produced. The conversions are: 1 MWh equals 1,000 kWh; 1 kWh equals 3.6 MJ; 1 MWh equals 3.6 GJ; and 1 TJ equals 1,000 GJ. Demand is power measured or assessed over a defined interval, and tariff definitions matter when interpreting demand charges. Capacity is a stated capability whose meaning depends on the equipment. Where a scheme rule gives a specific definition, that definition takes precedence over these general explanations. As a worked illustration, an idealised 10 kW load running steadily for 2 hours uses 20 kWh. That illustration assumes constant power, and an equipment nameplate on its own does not establish actual consumption.

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