Carbon Price Impact Calculator

Convert a carbon price (carbon tax or ETS allowance) into direct unit cost uplift for electricity, gas, and fuels — and quantify the annual bill impact. Compare fuels by carbon intensity and add a CBAM Exporter Module to benchmark exposure for EU shipments.

Inputs

Context

Facility / project name
Shown on the printed report.
Currency

Energy type & consumption

Energy type
ConsumptionkWh / year
Period
Current energy unit price€/kWh
Enter your delivered price (including transport, taxes, and fixed fees if you allocate them per unit).
Carbon priceper tCO₂

Emission factors (editable)

Electricity region factorkg CO₂/kWh
Grid factors vary widely. Use verified values if you have Scope 2 market-based data.
Selected fuel factorkg CO₂/unit
We use typical combustion factors for fuels. Adjust for your supplier specification.

Stress-test (“what-if”)

Scenario pricesper tCO₂
Comma-separated. The calculator will also include your current carbon price as a reference.
Abatement investment (optional)simple payback
CAPEX
tCO₂ reduced/year
Payback = CAPEX / (tCO₂ reduced × carbon price).
Request advisory
This is a benchmark tool. For corporate Scope 1/2 accounting, use: Corporate Carbon Audit.

CBAM Exporter Module (EU)

Use this module if you export CBAM-covered goods to the EU. Results are indicative and depend on verified supplier emissions and evolving regulations.

Shipment inputs

Product group
Quantitytonnes / year
CN Code
Embedded emissionstCO₂e / tonne
If you have verified supplier data, it can significantly change the cost estimate.
EU ETS price€/tCO₂e

Margin stress (optional)

Sales priceper tonne
Used to show CBAM cost share of revenue per tonne.
Gross margin% of sales
Used to approximate margin erosion (screening).
Practical advice: request verified supplier emissions, model worst-case EU ETS price, and align quarterly reporting for the CBAM transitional registry.

Benchmark carbon price risk on energy and exports

Carbon pricing is no longer a distant policy concept — it is an operational cost that can materially change the economics of electricity, gas, and fuel consumption for industrial sites and infrastructure projects. A carbon tax, an emissions trading system (ETS), or a border mechanism such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) effectively turns CO₂ emissions into a measurable line item. The challenge for plant managers, CFOs, and project developers is translating a headline number like “85 €/tCO₂” into a real-world impact: how many cents per kWh does it add to electricity? How does it change the delivered cost of steam, diesel, or natural gas? What happens to annual budgets if the carbon price rises to 100 or 150 €/tCO₂?

The Carbon Price Impact Calculator helps you answer these questions by converting carbon price into a direct unit-price uplift and an annual bill impact. First, you select an energy carrier and enter your consumption and current unit price. The tool estimates emissions using adjustable emission factors, then calculates the carbon cost and divides it back to a per-unit uplift. This makes carbon exposure immediately comparable across tariffs and contracts, and it supports “what-if” planning for procurement and decarbonization roadmaps.

Because not all fuels carry the same carbon intensity, the calculator also benchmarks multiple fuels side-by-side using a normalized carbon cost per kWh-equivalent. This supports strategic choices such as fuel switching (for example, moving from diesel to gas, electrification, or low-carbon steam supply) and prioritizing operational improvements that reduce CO₂. The integrated scenario table and chart can be used in board packs to justify hedging strategies, long-term PPAs, electrification CAPEX, or energy efficiency projects.

For exporters, the CBAM module extends the analysis beyond site energy into product-level exposure. By entering shipment tonnes, embedded emissions per tonne, and an EU ETS price assumption, you can estimate CBAM cost and test low/medium/high scenarios. This is especially useful for aluminum, steel, cement, fertilizers, hydrogen, and electricity exports, where embedded emissions and ETS price volatility can directly affect profitability. If you have verified supplier emissions, you can replace defaults to reduce uncertainty and align with reporting requirements.

Use this tool as a benchmark and planning assistant. For decision-grade compliance or investment evaluation, validate emission factors, confirm product coverage and CN codes, and review the latest regulatory guidance. If you need a tailored carbon and energy risk assessment, Energy Solutions can support with data collection, marginal abatement cost analysis, and decarbonization investment screening.

FAQ

Is the unit uplift simply carbon price × emission factor?

Yes. Conceptually, unit uplift = (kg CO₂ per unit ÷ 1000) × (currency per tCO₂). The tool also calculates the total carbon cost for your consumption and shows the share of your energy bill.

Which electricity emission factor should I use?

Default values are regional averages. For better accuracy, use your country’s grid factor, a market-based Scope 2 factor (if applicable), or verified supplier data. If your electricity is partially covered by PPAs or certificates, the practical cost pass-through may differ.

Does this predict actual pass-through in my utility bill?

No. This is a benchmark translation of carbon pricing into a direct “pressure” per unit of energy and per year. Real pass-through depends on regulation, hedging, generation mix, free allocations, and contract structure.

What is CBAM and why should exporters model it?

CBAM is the EU’s mechanism to apply a carbon cost on imported goods with embedded emissions. Exporters can use the CBAM module to stress-test future cost exposure and reduce risk by improving emissions data quality or decarbonizing supply.

Can this tool help decide an abatement investment?

Yes at a screening level. Enter an abatement CAPEX and the expected annual tCO₂ reduction. The tool estimates a simple payback based on avoided carbon cost at your chosen carbon price.

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 Article: Measure your carbon footprint

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