[jeffbee]

That may be, but the awkward method used by this initiative says that PPAs don't count, so if you literally spin off a subsidiary to build a solar array for your new datacenter, and use a PPA to buy all of its output, that doesn't matter and you are supposed to use the regional grid carbon intensity. It is hard to imagine why anyone would adopt that method.

[jamescrowley]

Most solar arrays that are built still feed into the general electricity grid, as I understand it. So while the PPA has likely enabled the construction of the solar, you'd still need to consider the overall carbon intensity of the grid at the time of energy consumption - and hence the SCI incentivising direct reductions by making software carbon aware, and encouraging higher efficiency.

If the data centre entirely off-grid, the SCI permits using your own grid intensity factors.

I'm not clear on the scenario where the solar is directly connected to the data centre 'behind the meter', or if there are other forms of peak shaving, while still drawing on the grid when needed - does anyone else care to comment/clarify the standards intentions there in terms of incentives?