Guarantees of Origin (GO) are electronic certificates used in Europe to prove that 1 megawatt-hour (1 MWh) of electricity was generated from a specific energy source—most commonly renewable energy such as wind, solar, or hydro. They enable credible renewable electricity claims, support fuel mix disclosure, and are widely used in corporate Scope 2 emissions reporting.
What Are Guarantees of Origin (GO)?
A GO records verified attributes of electricity generation, typically including:
– Energy source (wind, solar, hydro, biomass, etc.)
– Country of origin and issuing body (registry)
– Production period (vintage) and plant details
– A unique certificate ID to prevent double-counting
GOs exist as digital entries in regulated registries and can be transferred between market participants.
Why GO Matters for EV Charging
For EV charging operators, fleets, and property owners, GOs help demonstrate that charging is supplied with renewable electricity—an increasingly common requirement in tenders and sustainability reporting. Proper GO use supports:
– “Renewable charging” claims (when certificates are cancelled)
– Stronger carbon reporting for charging operations and customers
– Compliance with corporate ESG and net-zero commitments
– Differentiated charging offers (e.g., “100% renewable electricity”)
In B2B markets, GO-backed claims can strengthen proposals to corporates, municipalities, and real estate owners.
How GO Works
A typical GO lifecycle:
– A generator produces renewable electricity and reports metered output
– The issuing body creates GOs (usually 1 GO = 1 MWh)
– GOs are traded or transferred to suppliers, CPOs, or corporate buyers
– The buyer cancels the GOs to make a valid consumption claim
– Cancellation is used for audits, disclosure, and reporting
The critical step is cancellation—buying GOs alone does not create a valid renewable consumption claim unless the certificates are cancelled for that purpose.
GO vs RECs and Other Certificate Schemes
Terminology differs by region:
– GO is the common European energy attribute certificate scheme
– REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) is a common term in the US and some other markets
– Both represent electricity attributes and rely on registries to prevent double-counting, but rules, issuing bodies, and market structures differ
For cross-border reporting, it’s important to use the correct scheme for the region and reporting framework.
Using GO in EV Charging Reporting
Common approaches for EV charging include:
– Cancelling GOs to match measured charging consumption (kWh aggregated to MWh)
– Portfolio-level cancellation for a network of chargers
– Providing monthly or session-based renewable electricity statements
– Linking GO volumes to meter data from site meters or charger meters
Where billing-grade traceability is needed, MID metering improves the credibility of energy matching.
Key Considerations and Limitations
To use GOs correctly and avoid weak claims:
– Ensure GOs are cancelled in the name of the entity making the claim
– Match consumption to the right period (vintage) where required
– Remember GOs do not physically route electricity to a specific charger
– Prices and availability vary by technology and country of origin
– Some customers require additional criteria (local origin, technology type, low vintage age)
Related Glossary Terms
Energy Attribute Certificates
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Renewable Charging
Scope 2 Emissions
Market-based Accounting
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Carbon Reporting
Green Tariff
MID Metering
Fleet CO₂ Reporting