Calculate Energy Consumption Under ASC Feed Standard

Energy monitoring rules under ASC Feed Standard

The Aquaculture Stewardship Council established mandatory energy monitoring and efficiency rules under Criterion 1.21 in version 1.2 of the ASC Feed Standard. This affects quality managers, compliance leads and environmental management personnel at certified feed manufacturing facilities. Feed manufacturers must calculate annual energy consumption, convert utility data into Megajoules per tonne and implement a formal management plan. Conformity Assessment Body auditors inspect these energy records and management plans during initial and annual surveillance audits.

Responsible energy use reduces reliance on finite fossil fuel resources and limits environmental pollution from feed milling operations. Unlike species-specific greenhouse gas calculations that focus strictly on ASC-conforming feed lines, energy consumption monitoring applies to total facility output. The scope of Criterion 1.21 covers all manufacturing activities from raw material receiving through processing to final product dispatch. Failing to maintain accurate fuel and electricity records or failing to convert totals into Megajoules indicates a dysfunctional quality management system.

Auditors evaluate energy purchase invoices, meter logs and annual reporting submissions to verify data integrity. Where feed mills operate multiple production lines or shared facilities, energy accounting must capture every fuel type used on site. Environmental and maintenance teams must collaborate to ensure reported energy totals match financial utility statements. Demonstrating active energy tracking supports compliance with national environmental regulations under Criterion 1.17 and aligns with global sustainability goals.

Step-by-step energy consumption calculation methodology

Indicator 1.21.1 requires feed mills to calculate annual energy consumption using the seven-step methodology detailed in Appendix 2, Section A3:

• Period identification: Select the assessment year, which is set as the previous calendar year running from 1 January to 31 December.
• Production volume calculation: Determine the total production volume of all feed products produced on site in tonnes during the assessment year.
• Energy source identification: Itemise all Scope 1 direct fuels consumed on site and Scope 2 indirect energy purchased for facility operations.
• Quantity measurement: Quantify consumption for each energy source in its native unit, such as litres for liquid fuels, cubic metres for natural gas and kilowatt-hours for electricity.
• Megajoule conversion: Convert all fuel and electricity quantities into Megajoules using recognised conversion factors and sum the grand total.
• Energy intensity calculation: Divide total energy consumption in Megajoules by the total tonnes of product produced in the assessment year to calculate Megajoules per tonne.
• Annual reporting submission: Report consumption quantities, converted Megajoule totals and calculated energy intensity to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council per site according to official data submission procedures.

Scope 1 and Scope 2 energy source classifications

Appendix 2, Section A3 categorises factory energy inputs into two mandatory accounting scopes:

• Scope 1 direct energy sources: Fuel consumed on site for processing boilers, driers and facility transport, including diesel in litres, petrol or gasoline in litres, natural gas in cubic metres and other specified operational fuels.
• Scope 2 indirect energy sources: Off-site energy generation consumed on site, including electricity in kilowatt-hours and district heating or cooling in kilowatt-hours.
• Electricity grid classification: Purchased electricity must specify whether power derives from the national or regional grid, off-grid renewable sources or off-grid non-renewable sources.

Implementing an Energy Efficiency Management Plan

Indicator 1.21.3 requires feed manufacturers to develop and implement a documented Energy Efficiency Management Plan. The plan must establish feasible measures and meaningful timelines to improve energy efficiency and increase the proportion of energy coming from renewable sources. Footnote 55 specifies that the plan must be embedded within the Risk Management Framework set out in Appendix 7. The predefined intent in step 1 is to improve energy efficiency or increase renewable energy use, while the predefined risk factor in step 2 is not achieving the intent within a six-year period.

Facilities must conduct risk assessments under step 3 of Appendix 7 to evaluate potential barriers to energy efficiency. Measures implemented under step 4 must focus on removing major points of energy wastage, conducting energy audits and upgrading inefficient processing machinery. Responsible practices include installing low-power lighting, implementing automated heating controls and migrating from fossil-fuel equipment to electric or gas-powered technology. Management must continuously monitor progress under steps 5a and 5b, repeating the risk assessment cycle to drive long-term operational improvements.

What to do now

• Audit site energy sources: Map all Scope 1 fuels and Scope 2 electricity connections across ingredient receiving, processing and warehouse areas.
• Reconcile annual consumption: Aggregate fuel and electricity data for the previous calendar year and convert all quantities into Megajoules using Appendix 2, Section A3.
• Calculate energy intensity: Divide total energy consumption in Megajoules by total site production tonnage to establish the baseline Megajoules per tonne figure.
• Formalise the Energy Efficiency Management Plan: Embed the Energy Efficiency Management Plan within the Appendix 7 Risk Management Framework, incorporating six-year targets for energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.

Reference documents

• ASC Feed Standard, V1.2, Criterion 1.21, Indicators 1.21.1, 1.21.2, 1.21.3, Appendix 2, Section A3, Appendix 7
• ASC Feed Standard Interpretation Manual, V1.2, Criterion 1.21