Streamlined Energy and Carbon ReportingComplete UK SECR Compliance Guide
Master Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirements for UK companies.
Mandatory for all quoted companies (any size) and for large unquoted companies & LLPs exceeding two of: £36m turnover, £18m balance sheet, 250 employees.
Expert guidance for SECR compliance.
SECR Applies If You Exceed 2 of These 3 Thresholds:
What is Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting?
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a mandatory UK framework requiring large companies to disclose energy use and carbon emissions in their annual reports, under SI 2018/1155.
Introduced in April 2019, SECR replaced the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) scheme. It runs alongside the four-yearly energy audit cycle covered in our sister site's ESOS Phase 4 guide.
Key SECR Requirements:
- Annual energy consumption (kWh) disclosure
- Associated greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e)
- At least one intensity metric
- Previous year comparisons
- Energy efficiency actions taken
SECR Timeline & Deadlines
Who Must Comply with SECR?
Quoted Companies
All UK incorporated companies listed on London Stock Exchange Main Market, NYSE, NASDAQ, or EEA exchange
Must Report:
- • Global energy use & GHG emissions
- • Scope 1 & 2 emissions minimum
- • Intensity metrics
- • Methodology used
Large Unquoted Companies & LLPs
UK incorporated companies exceeding 2 of 3 statutory thresholds. LLPs use the same figures but a different provision, SI 2008/1911 reg 12B — not Sch. 7 ¶20B, which is expressly disapplied for LLPs.
Thresholds (meet 2 of 3):
- • £36 million annual turnover
- • £18 million balance sheet
- • 250 employees average
SECR Exemptions & Reliefs
Low Energy Users
Relief from disclosure (not exemption) at 40,000 kWh or less, if the report states the reason
Subsidiaries
If included in parent report
Subsidiary of a Compliant Group
Included in a compliant parent group report — charities aren't a distinct SECR category and are caught, if at all, only as a large unquoted company
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Requirements
Energy & Emissions Data
- ▶Energy consumption: Total kWh from electricity, gas, transport
- ▶GHG emissions: Scope 1 & 2 in tCO2e; Scope 3 not required for quoted companies, mandatory only for the narrow transport-fuel limb for large unquoted companies & LLPs
- ▶UK vs overseas (quoted companies): Quoted companies must state what proportion of reported emissions and energy relate to the UK and offshore area
Intensity Metrics
- ▶Choose appropriate metric: Per revenue, FTE, floor area, or production unit
- ▶Year-on-year comparison: Show trends and improvements
- ▶Sector-specific: Use industry-relevant denominators
Narrative Disclosures
- ▶Methodology: Calculation approach and standards used
- ▶Energy efficiency: Actions taken in the reporting period
- ▶Data coverage: Explain any exclusions or estimates
SECR Carbon Reporting Methodology
Approved Methodologies for SECR
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting requires use of recognized methodologies:
Recommended Standards:
- GHG Protocol: Corporate Accounting Standard
- ISO 14064-1: GHG inventories
- UK Government: Environmental Reporting Guidelines
- DESNZ: Conversion factors for GHG reporting
Calculation Steps:
- 1.Identify emission sources and collect activity data
- 2.Apply appropriate emission factors (DESNZ/IEA)
- 3.Calculate total emissions by scope
- 4.Determine intensity metrics
- 5.Prepare narrative disclosures
Official SECR Resources:
SECR vs Other Reporting Frameworks
| Aspect | SECR | ESOS | UK SRS (Future) | TCFD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Energy & carbon reporting | Energy audits | Full sustainability | Climate risks |
| Frequency | Annual | Every 4 years | Annual | Annual |
| Threshold | £36m/£18m/250 | £44m/£38m/250 | Listed companies (proposed) | UKLR commercial companies category |
| Location | Directors' Report | Internal/EA | Annual Report | Annual Report |
SECR Implementation Checklist
Gap Analysis
Assess your current position against Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting requirements
- • Threshold assessment
- • Data availability review
- • Compliance roadmap
Data Collection & Calculation
Establish systems for SECR carbon reporting and energy data management
- • Energy data gathering
- • Emissions calculations
- • Intensity metrics
Report Preparation
Prepare compliant SECR disclosures for your Directors' Report
- • Narrative drafting
- • Board approval
- • Annual filing
From SECR to UK SRS: Preparing for the Future
SECR remains mandatory today. UK SRS is available for voluntary use now, and the FCA has proposed making it mandatory for listed companies from periods beginning January 2027 — but it has not yet published its policy statement, so nothing about UK SRS is confirmed yet.
Strong SECR compliance provides the foundation for future UK SRS readiness.
DESNZ's statutory post-implementation review of SECR, published 26 May 2026, recommended retention of SECR alongside UK SRS.
Current: SECR Requirements
- Basic energy and carbon reporting
- Scope 1 & 2 emissions focus
- Directors' Report disclosure
- Size-based thresholds
UK SRS: Voluntary Now, Proposed From 2027
- Comprehensive sustainability reporting
- Material Scope 3 categories, subject to materiality — proposed, not yet mandatory
- Climate scenario analysis
- Assurance proposed by the FCA, not yet finalised
Build your reporting capabilities now with SECR compliance
Learn about UK SRS Standards →Want to Talk It Through?
This guide covers what SECR requires and how it feeds into future UK SRS reporting.
If it would help to talk through your specific position, we offer a free, no-obligation call.