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Migrating to version 2 of Climatiq’s Microsoft Excel Add-In

In November 2024, Climatiq launched its first Add-In for Microsoft Excel, enabling you to easily access the Climatiq database and advanced emission estimations directly within their spreadsheets. Over the past year, the team has collected extensive user feedback, introduced incremental improvements, and enhanced both the underlying emission factor database and API.

Drawing from insights shared by new and existing users, Climatiq has now released a significantly improved version of the Add-In, offering:

  • An expanded sidebar interface featuring a comprehensive template library, formula documentation, and a dedicated support view
  • Streamlined emission estimation formulas, updated to the latest methodology changes, with clearer and more intuitive error messages
  • A smooth onboarding flow that helps new users get started with emission estimations immediately

Climatiq’s YouTube How-To Series  have also been updated to reflect the new version. Feel free to explore them to see the Add-In in action.

Screenshot of new add-in

Installing the new Add-In

Given that this release contains major breaking changes, Climatiq has published the new version as a separate Add-In rather than updating the existing one. Microsoft Excel does not currently support allowing you consciously opt into Add-In updates, instead updates typically roll out automatically within a few days. Given the substantial restructuring of formula inputs and outputs, an uncontrolled update would cause significant disruption for existing users. Publishing a separate version via Microsoft AppSource allows you to choose the most suitable time to upgrade.

To install the new version, follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall the existing Add-In (Climatiq – Carbon Footprint Calculator) by navigating to the Add-Ins section in the menu bar and opening More Add-Ins. In My Add-Ins, right-click to remove the current installation.
  2. Install the new Add-In from Microsoft AppSource, either via the website  or the Add-In menu option within Excel by searching for Climatiq, and complete the guided setup steps.
  3. Update the Climatiq formulas in any active templates or sheets as outlined below.

You must uninstall the existing Add-In before installing the new one. Both versions use the same prefix for custom formulas (CLIMATIQ), which would otherwise cause errors in Excel.

Detailed Overview of Changes

To elevate your experience, the sidebar has been completely redesigned. After installation, it now guides you through an easy onboarding flow. During everyday use, you can access to a wide range of templates, from a complete demo file to reference sheets for units, regions, currencies, and other resources.

The Formulas library in the sidebar includes detailed documentation for every emission estimation formula, along with quick-insert options for both the formula and the corresponding header to label the outputs. Each formula comes with a dedicated video tutorial.

The new Support section lets you request live demos, find help for open questions, browse FAQs, and manage your Climatiq key.

Climatiq Access Management

Previously, you had to set your Climatiq key manually using a formula. In the new Add-In, access permissions are automatically retrieved using your email address. If the email associated with your Microsoft account differs from the one used for your Climatiq access, you can still add your key manually via the Support view.

Access permissions are now stored at the user level, not per Excel file. This means you can begin using Climatiq estimations in any file without additional setup. However, permissions do not transfer when sharing a file: when a colleague opens your spreadsheet, the Add-In automatically applies their permissions.

Custom Formula Enhancements

A range of formula improvements is included in this release. For full details, refer to the dedicated documentation.

Removal of the ShowDetails Flag

To streamline inputs, the optional ShowDetails flag has been removed. Estimation details are now included by default.

Improved Error Handling

Error messages have been rewritten to be clearer and more user-friendly, avoiding references to API terminology and ensuring guidance is actionable for non-technical users.

Header Formulas

Instead of relying on separate header formulas, you can now insert output column names directly via the formula library.

Changed Formulas

In addition to the removal of the ShowDetails flag, the following changes have been made to the formulas:

  • Search Emission Factor Database: Added support for selecting specific emission factor database versions and returning applicable scopes.
  • Intermodal Freight: Upgraded to the latest freight estimation endpoint (using GLEC 3.1), with expanded route coverage via a secondary provider.
  • Air, Road, Rail & Spend-Based Travel: Updated to the latest Climatiq travel endpoint using 2025 US EPA and UK BEIS factors.
  • Fuel: Updated to the latest Climatiq fuel endpoint using 2025 US EPA and UK BEIS factors.
  • Electricity: Supports custom supplier-specific emission factors for market-based estimates and returns full location- and market-based emissions across all four stages by default. Updated to the latest 2025 electricity factors.
  • General Estimate: Added the option to select the preferred calculation method (AR4, AR5, or AR6).
  • Autopilot: Updated to the latest Autopilot version, now offering multi-language support and expanded search across the full database (scope 1, 2 and 3), with additional filtering options.

Added Formulas

  • Calculate Heat & Steam: Estimate scope 2 and 3 emissions for heat and steam usage.
  • Retrieve Factor Details: Retrieve additional audit trail data about the factors used in an estimation. Apply this formula to the ‘Applied Emission Factors’ output cell from any relevant estimation.

Deprecated Formulas

The following formulas have been removed to streamline the Add-In:

  • Classification: Duplicate of the procurement-by-classification estimation formula
  • Calculate Cloud Computing - Virtual Machines: Cloud computing estimations are being centrally deprecated
  • Search Available Regions, Search Available Fuels Type and Search Available Electricity Suppliers: These input value options are now available directly via the Templates view in the sidebar
  • Header Formulas: As outlined above, all header formulas were replaced by the insertion options in the sidebar

Get Support

In case you have any questions on this process or encounter any issues, please reach out to our team .

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