The Aii Benchmark expresses energy intensity in kilowatt-hours per kilogram of product (kWh/kg), reflecting the units most commonly used by manufacturing facilities to measure and manage their energy performance.

While megajoules (MJ) are the standard SI unit for energy and are often used in academic studies, energy balances, and life-cycle assessments, kWh is the most practical and widely recognized unit in industrial benchmarking. Electricity meters, utility bills, and most facility monitoring systems report energy use in kWh, making it the most accessible metric for facilities to track, interpret, and compare performance.

Using kWh/kg aligns the benchmark with current industry practice and supports direct integration of facility data, ensuring that results are easily understood and comparable across suppliers and regions.

For reference, 1 kWh = 3.6 MJ.