The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of electricity generated, typically measured in grams CO2 per kilowatt-hour. Carbon intensity varies dramatically by generation source: coal (~1,000 g/kWh), natural gas (~400 g/kWh), nuclear and renewables (~0-50 g/kWh). Because marginal generation is often natural gas, new electricity demand frequently has higher carbon intensity than grid averages suggest.
Discussed in Chapter 6 of This Is Server Country