Corporate Carbon Footprint Calculation in SAP Sustainability Control Tower

[Sreekanth_PC1]

Overview

The Corporate Carbon Footprint Calculator, a feature introduced as part of a major update to SAP Sustainability Control Tower in June 2024, allows customers to calculate carbon footprints for various business activities using pre-configured emission factors. This functionality empowers organizations to efficiently track, manage, and reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by automating the calculation processes for diverse operational activities.

Prerequisites

1. SAP Sustainability Control Tower subscription
2. Enabling Corporate Carbon Footprint Calculation in subaccount level
3. Assigning user roles

Note: -

Complete the booster (automatic configuration) or manual configuration in the subaccount where you have a subscription of SAP Sustainability Control Tower. Don't add it to a subaccount that already has a subscription to SAP Sustainability Footprint Management

Process Flow

1. Update Master Data

Users will see the status notification “2 issues found” on the “Manage Master Data” app (refer the image-01) when using the Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) functionality in SAP Sustainability Control Tower (SCT) for the first time, either after completing the CCF booster scenario or following manual configuration.

Steps to update the master data

There are two different scenarios;

1. The legal entity has already been imported and is in use.
2. The legal entity nodes have not been imported

Note: Import the legal entity before importing in to Business locations

Condition A: Legal entity data was already imported before CCF functionality release

Go to “Manage Master Data” app and click on “Go to replication” and give the confirmation. System will replicate the Legal entity to the CCF server.

Condition B: Legal entity data is not available

Download the Legal entity node and Links template and maintain relevant data and import it.

Import Business location with assignment of Legal entity (Make link between the business location and Legal Entity)

Notes:

• Manual replication of Legal entity only if user is imported Legal Entity dimension before CCF release other wise the legal entity data automatically replicated in CCF server
• Please make sure and complete Snapshot setting If you are modified in reporting hierarchy ( Business Locations, Legal Entitles, and Reporting line)

2. Maintain Emission Factor

Emission Factor: An emission factor represents the amount of GHG emissions typically measured in CO2Equivalent (CO2-e) released per unit of specific activity or resource consumed such Fuel Combustion (Liters of Fuel burned), Electricity usage, etc.,

Example, For gasoline 2.31 KgCo2 per Liter gasoline, for Electricity 0.9 KgCO2 per KWH (Electricity generating from Coal fired boilers/Powerplant)

Data Package consist of several Data Sets for emission factors. These Data Sets provide detailed and structured information about emission factors associated with specific products, processes, or activities

Hence, we are creating only one custom dataset which consist of emission factor business travel by air. The emission factor for one kilometre per passenger is 0.158 KgCo2e

Identifier is “Z_CUST_02” Name : “Business Travel by Air”

We should release the data set only after you have entered values in all the necessary fields. Ensure that all required information (*validity period) is correctly filled in before proceeding with the release process. This helps maintain data accuracy and prevents errors or incomplete submissions

3. Create Business Activities

Define the business activities here to collect data to calculate associated GHG emissions. User can assign the business activities to different business locations

We are calculating carbon Footprint quantity based and we are using the emission factor that we created in the earlier step.

Note:

• The user can use the preloaded emission factors if needed. However, for demonstration purposes, I have created a custom emission factor

Define the emission factor periods.

4. Manage GHG Data Collections

In this step we are going manage the recording of footprint data connected to business locations

Create the data collection for the relevant period.

We can see that the data collection form has been created for all locations. 

You have already created a data collection and recorded GHG data for a particular month, but a new business location was added later with an assigned GHG emission source, activity, or process. In this case, use the Regenerate functionality to create the GHG data forms again.  So, system again generate the GHG data forms.

We can see that the data collection form has been created for all locations. However, we can select "Set Not Applicable" if a location is not currently assigned to any GHG emission sources or activities or processes

We have set not applicable for all other location except the Los Angels and Palo Alto Plant locations.

5. Record GHG data

In this step, we can record GHG emission data for all business locations using GHG data forms. We can either import data using templates or manually enter the values (specifically quantity, since we are using a quantity-based footprint calculation).

Select a specific line item, click the Edit button, enter the quantities (total kilometers traveled in a month).

Mark Set completed and then save the changes.

The user can reopen GHG data forms to make changes, even after they have been marked as Completed or Set Not Applicable

6. Review Collected GHG Data

We need to review the collected GHG data before publishing it or making it available for detailed analysis in the "View Emission Data" app

Open the "Manage GHG Data Collections" app, select the reporting period and business locations to be reviewed, and click the Review button. The system will then review and publish the data.

Note: If the review fails, try again.

7. Analyze the Recorded GHG Data

View Emission Dashboard will give the overall trend GHG emission of organization which is including the trend of Gross GHG emission, Net Emissions, Emission avoided by Renewables, and Offset

Note:

• Gross GHG Emissions : This represents the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by an organization, facility, or activity before any reductions or offsets are applied. It includes emissions from all sources such as fuel combustion, industrial processes, and electricity consumption.
• Net Emissions : Net emissions are the final amount of GHG emissions after accounting for reductions, such as renewable energy use and carbon offsets. It is calculated as: Net Emissions = Gross GHG Emissions - (Emission Avoided by Renewables + Offsets) This number gives a clearer picture of an organization's actual carbon footprint after mitigation efforts.
• Emissions Avoided by Renewables: This refers to the reduction in emissions due to the use of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. For example, if a company replaces fossil fuel-based electricity with solar power, the emissions that would have been produced are considered avoided emissions.
• Offsets : Offsets are external projects or actions that compensate for emissions by removing or reducing GHGs elsewhere. Examples include: Investing in reforestation projects, Supporting carbon capture technologies, Purchasing carbon credits from certified programs Offsets help organizations balance out emissions they cannot eliminate directly.

If a customer wants more advanced capabilities to calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, they can use SAP Sustainability Footprint Management. If they need a more detailed breakdown of GHG combinations (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, or fluorinated gases), they can use the SAP EHSM Environment Management solution.

Thanks for reading my post.
Sreekanth