Critical Data Quality Issues in EU Emission Reporting
Multiple European industrial facilities show implausible emissions data across two primary EU databases: the Industrial Emissions Portal and the Emission Trading System (ETS) registry. Errors include unit conversion mistakes resulting in reported values off by factors of 1,000 to 1,000,000, unexplained data divergences across reporting periods, and inconsistent treatment of biogenic and greenhouse gas conversions between systems.
Key Data Inconsistencies Identified
- Elkem's ferrosilicon plant in Iceland shows emissions in the Industrial Portal potentially confused between units (kilograms vs. tons), with one data point off by a factor of one million
- ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Dunkirk, France exhibits diverging emission curves between databases from 2013-2017, with Industrial Portal values exceeding ETS values
- Yara's fertilizer plant in Ambès, France shows significant divergence from 2019-2022 despite alignment in earlier years, with no explanation provided despite inquiries
- Different handling of biogenic CO₂ and conversion factors for N₂O (factor changed from 310 to 265 in 2021) create incomparable data between systems
- Neither companies, authorities, nor EU officials have provided explanations for these anomalies despite direct contact
Financial and Environmental Implications
Incorrect emission data has significant financial consequences: underreported emissions allow companies to avoid ETS certificate payments while the EU loses revenue. The ETS database appears more reliable than the Industrial Portal because large financial stakes incentivize accuracy, whereas the Portal is purely transparency-focused. These inconsistencies undermine climate policy credibility and complicate efforts to track genuine industrial emissions reductions.