FuelType Metadata Type in SFDX

Architectural Overview#

FuelType is a core metadata type within Salesforce Net Zero Cloud (formerly Sustainability Cloud) that standardizes energy source classifications for enterprise environmental, social, and governance (ESG) accounting. Net Zero Cloud tracks greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across stationary assets (office buildings, manufacturing plants, data centers) and mobile assets (vehicle fleets, executive travel).

Accurate carbon accounting mandates rigorous classification of energy inputs—such as natural gas, diesel, grid electricity, heavy fuel oil, or bio-methane. FuelType metadata establishes the canonical system of record for these fuel classifications. By managing fuel classifications as declarative code in Salesforce DX, sustainability architects ensure that emissions factor lookups, global carbon accounting rules, and regulatory audit reports maintain consistency across distributed multinational subsidiaries.

Directory and File Conventions#

In Salesforce DX source format (apiVersion 68.0), FuelType components reside in the fuelTypes/ directory.

Key Metadata Fields#

The FuelType XML definition captures sustainability classifications, renewability markers, and fuel categories:

Declarative XML and Package Manifest Examples#

Below is a declarative FuelType configuration for renewable bio-diesel:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<FuelType xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <developerName>Bio_Diesel_B20</developerName>
    <masterLabel>Bio Diesel B20 Blend</masterLabel>
    <description>Commercial vehicle fleet blend with 20 percent renewable biodiesel content.</description>
    <fuelCategory>Biofuel</fuelCategory>
    <isRenewable>true</isRenewable>
</FuelType>

Package Manifest (package.xml)#

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Package xmlns="http://soap.sforce.com/2006/04/metadata">
    <types>
        <members>Bio_Diesel_B20</members>
        <name>FuelType</name>
    </types>
    <version>68.0</version>
</Package>

CLI Retrieval and Deployment Commands#

Manage FuelType components via standard Salesforce CLI commands:

# Retrieve all fuel types from the Net Zero org
sf project retrieve start --metadata FuelType

# Deploy a specific fuel type to your sustainability sandbox
sf project deploy start --metadata FuelType:Bio_Diesel_B20

Architect Best Practices and Gotchas#

• Scratch Org Definitions: Ensure your project-scratch-def.json includes "NetZeroCloud" in the "features" array; otherwise, attempts to retrieve or deploy FuelType will fail with missing entity errors.
• Audit Compliance: Changes to FuelType metadata can impact historical carbon recalculations. Track all changes in Git version control to provide third-party carbon accounting auditors with complete lineage.
• Emission Factor Binding: Ensure corresponding emissions factor library records are seeded immediately following FuelType deployments to avoid null references in carbon calculation flows.

Frequently asked questions

Which Salesforce cloud platform utilizes the FuelType metadata type?

Net Zero Cloud utilizes FuelType to categorize fossil fuels, renewables, and electricity sources for carbon emission calculations.

How does FuelType link to emissions factor datasets?

FuelType connects stationary and vehicle energy consumption records to standard emissions factor sets for Scope 1 direct emissions quantification.

What scratch org feature is required to deploy FuelType metadata?

Scratch org definitions must include NetZeroCloud or Sustainability features to provision the underlying energy accounting schema and metadata types.