With consumers all pulling from the same shared grid it’s impossible to know which consumer uses what megawatt hour (MWh) generated.

This becomes especially problematic as companies and countries try to decarbonise their operations and Scope 2 emissions. Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) offer a
solution.

EACs are transferable statements that represent proof that 1 MWh of electricity was generated from a particular power source and was then fed into the shared power network. A key aspect of these certificates is that each can only be used once and is retired at the end of each Compliance Period – reducing the potential for double counting renewable MWhs.

Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGOs) in the UK, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in the US, and other Guarantees of Origin used around Europe each
denote the underlying source, location, and year of generation. When a supplier buys a MWh of electricity from a renewable generator, they can also purchase an EAC which is passed to the consumer or cancelled and allocated in the name of the consumer by the local regulatory body – offering proof that they paid for and consumed renewable power.

Read more from By Valpy Fitzgerald, Director of Renewables & Sustainable Commodities at Drax