SSE plc sustainability score: 44/100
Better than 85% of Energy Supply / Utilities
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
SSE plc is a UK-listed energy company operating generation, transmission, distribution, and retail electricity and gas across Britain and Ireland. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Perth, it is one of the UK's largest integrated energy utilities, serving millions of customers while managing extensive thermal and renewable generation capacity.
Founded 1998Head office Perth, United KingdomStaff ~15,000Revenue ~£10.5BWebsite ↗
SSE publishes comprehensive GHG data with external assurance and holds SBTi-validated targets, but absolute emissions rose 10% in FY2024/25 due to increased thermal generation. The company remains 48% of the way to its 2030/31 absolute reduction target—behind schedule. Renewable capacity is growing, but fossil fuels still dominate operational footprint.
SSE plc scores 44/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified October 2026.
That places SSE plc joint 306th of 1,023 companies scored, and 4th of 21 in Energy Supply / Utilities.
What is SSE plc doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Transparency & Accountability and Carbon Footprint: Operations (9/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Energy Source (5/10, 5/10).
Where SSE plc lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy isShow at least half its energy is renewable, with a transition plan.
- Emissions from its supply chainMap its full value chain and run a supplier engagement programme.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling5/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is5/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature6/10No verified restoration beyond its own footprint, or supply chain not mapped for nature risk.
- How it uses materials and handles waste7/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water6/10No water stewardship programme or verified fall in water use.
- Its climate targets8/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports9/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
- Its record on controversies6/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is SSE plc's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas SSE plc's score changed?
SSE plc's score has moved from 45 to 44 across 2 recorded reviews, down 1 point.
- 45 → 44-13 October 2026
Aggregator-citation sweep: broker citations replaced with the primary disclosures they mirror, re-scored through the guarded pipeline under pinned code 9196601.
- Scored 454 April 2026
Initial score at platform launch
What evidence is SSE plc's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
67% of them were published by SSE plc itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“SSE's scope 1 and 2 absolute emissions were 5.70MtCO₂e (2023/24: 4.81 MtCO₂e)”
“This data has been extracted from the SSE plc Annual Report 2024 where it was subject to external independent limited assurance by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ('PwC')”
“Between 2017/18 and 2024/25, SSE's scope 1 emissions have reduced from 10.1 MtCO₂e to 5.2 MtCO₂e”
“SSE targets no 'net loss' in biodiversity on onshore large capital projects consented from 2023 and 'net gain' in biodiversity on those consented from 2025 onwards”
“committed to not constructing any further gas-fired power stations without a clear route to decarbonisation”
“Over 2024/25, SSE Renewables generated a total of 439.5 tonnes of waste from its wholly-owned operational sites. Of this, 97% was diverted from landfill and 59% was recycled”
“none of SSE's core operations have an impact on water-stressed areas; SSE committed to reduce its water use in buildings each year by 2.5%”
“Sustainability Report 2025, Sustainability Data Tables 2025, Net Zero Transition Report, CDP Submission 2025, Biodiversity Report”
“Target: Net-zero, Scope 1+2+3, 1.5°C, Base Year 2023, Target Year 2035, Date Published 2025-01-09”
“Ofgem has decided to impose a financial penalty on SSE Generation Limited, requiring it to pay £9.78 million in relation to a breach of its Generation Licence”
“SSE exhibits strategic engagement that is supportive of science-aligned climate policy, including in its top-line statements”
“Opponents, including over 40 climate organizations, contend that the project would lock in decades of gas demand”
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How does SSE plc compare with other energy supply / utilities companies?
Where SSE plc sits among energy supply / utilities peers.
Among the 21 major energy supply / utilities brands we've scored, SSE plc sits 4th of 21.
Who scores higher in Energy Supply / Utilities?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above SSE plc.
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See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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