Energy Attribute Certificate (EAC)
A tradeable certificate proving that one megawatt-hour of electricity was generated from a specific renewable energy source, used to substantiate market-based Scope 2 emission claims.
What is Energy Attribute Certificate (EAC)?
Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) are the instruments that allow organisations to claim renewable electricity under the GHG Protocol's market-based method for Scope 2 reporting. They separate the environmental attributes of electricity generation from the physical electricity itself, enabling renewable energy claims regardless of where the electricity is physically consumed.
Different regions use different EAC systems: REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) in the UK, GOs (Guarantees of Origin) in the EU, RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) in North America, and I-RECs in other international markets. Each certificate represents one MWh of renewable generation and includes information about the energy source, location, and generation period.
Under the GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance, EACs can be used to report market-based Scope 2 emissions of zero for the corresponding electricity consumption. However, there is growing scrutiny of EAC quality. Best practice, as outlined by RE100 and the GHG Protocol, requires temporal matching (certificates from the same period as consumption), geographic matching (same market or grid), and additionality (preferring certificates from new renewable capacity).
Organisations should be aware that using cheap, unbundled EACs from existing renewable capacity is increasingly viewed as insufficient for credible climate claims. The trend is toward 24/7 carbon-free energy matching and direct procurement through PPAs.
Practical Examples
A UK office tenant purchases REGOs to match 100% of its electricity consumption, enabling it to report zero market-based Scope 2 emissions while its location-based emissions remain at the grid average.
A multinational company purchases I-RECs for its operations in markets where direct PPA options are limited, ensuring consistent renewable energy claims across its global portfolio.
A data centre operator transitions from purchasing unbundled REGOs to signing a direct PPA with a new wind farm, improving the additionality and credibility of its renewable energy claim.
How Climatise Helps
Climatise tracks both location-based and market-based Scope 2 emissions. The platform can incorporate your EAC purchases (REGOs, GOs, I-RECs) to accurately calculate your market-based emissions and show the impact of your renewable energy procurement strategy.
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