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Guarantee of origin

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A Guarantee of Origin (GO or GoO) is an energy certificate defined in article 15 of the European Directive 2009/28/EC. A GO labels electricity from renewable sources and provides information to electricity customers on the source of their energy. Guarantees of Origin are the only defined instruments evidencing the origin of electricity generated from renewable energy sources.

Certificate

In operation, a GO is a green label or tracker that guarantees that one MWh of electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources. Guarantees of Origin are traded and when a company buys Guarantees of Origin, as proof for the electricity delivered or consumed, the Guarantees of Origin are cancelled in an electronic certificate registry.[1] This single standardized instrument makes it possible to track ownership, verify claims and ensure that Guarantees of Origin are only sold once.[2]

Guarantees of Origin are issued electronically for a quantity of electricity generation (1 GO per MWh), traded and redeemed (i.e. used) by suppliers as evidence for their customers of the source of the delivered electricity. Generation from renewable energy sources is the most sought-after attribute. Some countries issue Guarantees of Origin for all fuel types of electricity generation.

Guarantees of Origin should not be confused with the Eugene Green Energy Standard or EKOenergy labelling scheme. Both provide consumers with more information about their power (transparency). However, Eugene and EKOenergy go further by requiring additionality. Eugene and EKOenergy are private initiatives whereas Guarantees of Origin arise from European regulations.[3]

Governance

The GO is standardized through the European Energy Certificate System (EECS) provided by the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB). The European Energy Certificate System standardizes trade, cancellation and use of GOs across AIB members.[4]

Terminology

Production period

Refers to the month and year when the electricity was produced.

Issued

Refers to the month and year when the GO was issued.

Transfer

Transfer is the exchange of a GO from one party to another.

Import – export

GOs can originate in a country other than the country of consumption. GOs can be imported (exported) from another country either via import (export), or via cancellation.

Cancellation

Cancellation is the physical 'use' of a GO certificate and is the method for allocating the attributes of the electricity to a single end-user. Cancelling a GO is the only way to redeem its benefits while ensuring that the certificate will not be traded, sold, or used by another end-user. Consumer information and avoidance of double counting is the main objective of this system.

Criticism

Guarantees of origin have been criticized due to a variety of reasons. Most notable are the issues of double counting and the lack of additionality.

Double Counting

The use of electricity certification systems like guarantees of origin leads to double counting of renewable electricity. This means that the same renewable electricity is claimed by multiple actors.

Such double counting has been shown in the case of Iceland, a country which produces its power exclusively from renewable electricity. Iceland exports guarantess of origin for most of its electricity. At the same time, energy intensive companies within Iceland that do not receive guarantees of origin claim to produce with 100% renewable electricity.[5]

After media reports, the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) has suspended certificate exports from Iceland in April 2023.[6] , AIB lifted the ban and allowed exports from Iceland again, while at the same time stating that the situation has not been resolved.[7][8]

Similar issues with double counting exist in Norway and have been known for several years.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Reliability >>". www.aib-net.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Reliability >>". www.aib-net.org. Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  3. ^ see Directives 2001/77/EC, 2004/8/EC and logically 2003/54/EC, all applicable in the European Economic Area (EEA).
  4. ^ "Content >>". www.aib-net.org. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ^ Böck, Hanno (11 May 2023). "How Iceland sold the same Green Electricity twice". Industry Decarbonization Newsletter. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Regarding the compliance assessment of Landsnet's possible breach of EECS Rules N9.1.1, A2.1.2, C3.3.1 and E3.3.14" (PDF). AIB. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Regarding the compliance assessment of Landsnet's possible breach of the EECS Rules" (PDF). AIB. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  8. ^ Böck, Hanno (June 05, 2023). "Double Counting and other problems with Green Electricity Certificates". Industry Decarbonization Newsletter. Retrieved June 19, 2023. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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