Guarantees of Origin are electronic documents that prove to the end consumer that a given quantity of electricity was generated using a given technology. Currently there are three versions:
Since March 2020, REN has taken on the role of Issuer of Guarantees of Origin in mainland Portugal. It is responsible for implementing and managing the system for issuing certificates attesting that the source of that energy generation is renewable, including the electronic registration, issuance, transfer, and cancellation of these certificates.
REN is connected with the other European countries through the AIB – Association of Issuing Bodies, which facilitates the import and export of Guarantees of Origin within the European area. At REN, this activity is carried out by the Energy Services Department.
In Portugal, where over half the electricity consumed is generated from renewable sources, Guarantees of Origin play an important role in promoting the generation of renewable energy, “guaranteeing” a greener and more sustainable planet.
Guarantees of Origin help companies comply with their sustainability strategies, showing concern about climate change and contributing to the increased satisfaction of their employees and customers, while for domestic consumers it enables them to take on greater social responsibility and have a greater impact on the energy transition.
For more information, please contact EEGO.
The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for issuing guarantees of origin for the generation of electricity and heating and cooling energy generated from renewable energy sources.
According to the most recent wording of Decree-Law 141/2010 of 31 December, the Issuing Entity for Guarantees of Origin has the following competences:
The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is supervised by Entidade Nacional para o Setor Energético, E. P. E., which publishes on its website an annual summary report of the actions carried out.
For additional information, contact EEGO.
Producers of electricity from renewable energy sources must request the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity to issue guarantees of origin for the energy they generate in accordance with the most recent wording of Decree Law 141/2010 of 31 December.
The issuance of these guarantees of origin is carried out in accordance with the rules and procedures set out in the Procedures Manual of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity.
Producers of heating and cooling energy from renewable energy sources must request the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity to issue guarantees of origin for the energy they generate, in accordance with the most recent wording of Decree Law 141/2010 of 31 December.
These guarantees of origin are issued in accordance with the rules and procedures set out in the Manual of Procedures of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity and are dependent on the creation of a pool of Auditors qualified for the supervision of these facilities.
According to the most recent wording of Decree-Law 141/2010 of 31 December, it is the responsibility of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity to carry out, directly or through external auditors, auditing actions to monitor the facilities and equipment for generation from renewable energy sources, as well as the energy measuring equipment that enables and ensures the correct qualification of the facilities and the guarantee or certification of origin of the electricity and of the energy generated for heating and cooling.
An audit is considered to be the set of verifications and tests carried out, in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, aimed at confirming that a facility meets or continues to meet the applicable regulatory provisions so that the generation of energy may be certified by guarantees of origin. Audits shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Manual of Procedures of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity.
The audits may be carried out directly by the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity or through qualified auditors, whose regime of access to the provision of auditing services for cogeneration-based generation facilities or generation from renewable energy sources is established by Law 75/2015 of 28 July. The auditor for the execution of a given audit is chosen on the basis of objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria.
The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for issuing certificates and guarantees of origin for electricity generated in cogeneration facilities that operate in an efficient and high-efficiency regime, respectively.
According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for developing and managing the system for issuing guarantees, including registering, issuing, transmitting, and cancelling the respective guarantees electronically, as well as auditing and monitoring the facilities and the generation and measurement equipment to ensure the correct qualification of the facilities and the certification of the origin of the energy generated.
According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, High-Efficiency Cogeneration is cogeneration where there are primary energy savings of at least 10% in comparison with the separate generation of electricity and heat, as well as small-scale cogeneration (installed capacity below 1 MW) and micro-cogeneration, which results in primary energy savings. The Primary Energy Savings are calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in the Procedures Manual of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity.
Any electricity producer in these conditions may request the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity to issue guarantees of origin relating to the electricity generated, under the terms established in Article 21 of the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March.
According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, efficient cogeneration is cogeneration that is not classified as High-Efficiency Cogeneration and where there are primary energy savings in comparison with the separate generation of electricity and heat. The primary energy savings are calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in the Procedures Manual of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity.
Any electricity producer in cogeneration facilities under an efficient regime, when included in the special remuneration regime, must request the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity to issue certificates of origin for the electricity generated, under the terms established in Article 22 of the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March.
According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for auditing and monitoring cogeneration facilities and equipment, as well as energy measurement equipment, in order to allow and ensure the correct qualification of the facilities and the guarantee or certification of origin of the electricity generated. Audits are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Manual of Procedures of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity, with three types contemplated:
Initial: a set of checks and tests are carried out to confirm that the facilities that transition to the new certification comply with the applicable regulatory provisions so that the generation of electricity may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin.
Periodic: a series of checks and tests are carried out periodically, in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, aimed at confirming that the Generation Facility continues to comply with the applicable regulatory provisions so that the generation of electrical energy may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin.
Extraordinary: at the request of one of the interested parties, a set of verifications and tests are carried out in order to assess whether the Generation Facility meets or continues to meet the applicable regulatory provisions, so that the generation of electricity may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin.
The audits are carried out directly by the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity or through duly qualified auditors, whose regime of access to the provision of auditing services for cogeneration-based generation facilities or generation from renewable energy sources is established by Law 75/2015 of 28 July. The auditor for the execution of a given audit is chosen on the basis of objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria.
Joining the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity System happens under the terms established in the Procedures Manual of this entity. Registration is carried out electronically through the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity System by means of an application process. Participants must enter into a registration contract with the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity, committing to comply with the provisions set out in the entity’s Manual of Procedures, as well as those established in all applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
For conducting import and export transactions for Guarantees of Origin under the pan-European Energy Certificate System, participants must also accept the rules and obligations established by the Association of Issuing Bodies, including the so-called “Standard Terms and Conditions Between The AIB Hub Participant and the Market Participant”.
For additional information, contact EEGO.