Ørsted

Does the core business genuinely avoid or reduce emissions, or build climate resilience? Share of revenue that is actually 'green'. Fossil-dependent models score low.

Ørsted's core offshore wind business directly displaces fossil-fuel electricity generation at massive scale — electricity from offshore wind carries 99% lower lifecycle emissions than coal — and the company has met its own 98% scope 1–2 emissions-intensity reduction target from a 2006 baseline, completing the closure of its last coal plant in 2024; however, residual biomass combustion for heat and scope 3 supply-chain emissions (steel, copper, maritime fuels) remain material.

Credible, science-based targets (SBTi), a real net-zero plan with progress to date, and CDP disclosure — not just a dated press release.

Ørsted holds the strongest credentialing stack available: SBTi-validated 2040 net-zero target covering full value-chain scope 1–3, updated 2030 interim targets (also SBTi-approved in January 2025) fully aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, and a CDP Climate Change 'A' rating for seven consecutive years — it was the first energy company globally to achieve SBTi net-zero validation.

Operational footprint, labour and social practices, and governance quality across the company's own operations and supply chain.

Operationally strong — 99% renewable energy share in production, 99% of capex classified as sustainable, and active supply-chain decarbonisation partnerships (low-emission steel with Dillinger, blade circularity with Siemens Gamesa) — but demerits come from continued burning of solid wood biomass criticised by environmental NGOs, large-scale US project cancellations that triggered significant employee layoffs, and governance turbulence including a board chair resignation following the 2023 loss.

Quality of disclosure, independent third-party verification, and how much hard data backs the company's claims.

Ørsted publishes comprehensive, quantified sustainability reporting with independent third-party assurance, discloses to CDP with an 'A' rating, fully reports scope 1–3 emissions with a defined 2018 base year, and its targets are externally validated by SBTi — disclosure quality is sector-leading, though intensity-based (rather than purely absolute) target framing for scope 3 from renewables manufacturing warrants continued scrutiny.

Controversies, litigation, pollution, fossil-fuel lobbying, conflict-zone involvement and governance scandals. Higher means cleaner.

Ørsted's integrity score is impacted by the DKK 28.4 billion in US offshore wind impairments in 2023 and cancellation of Ocean Wind 1 and 2 — raising questions about project risk management and investor communication — a board chair resignation amid the crisis, ongoing criticism from environmental groups over solid wood biomass use, and US political headwinds including a Trump administration halt to Revolution Wind; no fossil-fuel lobbying or pollution scandals found, but governance turbulence and biomass controversy are material.