Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are electronic certificates that verify that 1 megawatt-hour (1 MWh) of electricity was generated from a specific energy source (most commonly renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydro). They are used to support credible renewable electricity claims, fuel mix disclosure, and corporate Scope 2 emissions reporting.
What Are Guarantees of Origin?
A Guarantee of Origin is a standardized tracking instrument that links an amount of electricity to attributes such as:
– Generation technology (wind, solar, hydro, biomass, etc.)
– Country of origin and issuing body
– Production period and commissioning details
– Unique certificate identification to prevent double-counting
GOs are issued, transferred, and cancelled in a controlled registry system to verify renewable claims.
Why Guarantees of Origin Matter for EV Charging
EV charging operators, fleet owners, and property managers increasingly need to demonstrate that charging is powered by renewable electricity. Guarantees of Origin enable:
– Credible “renewable charging” claims (when certificates are properly cancelled)
– Improved carbon reporting for EV charging operations and customers
– Alignment with corporate ESG, net-zero, and decarbonization targets
– Differentiated charging offers such as “100% renewable energy” tariffs
For B2B charging, GOs are often used to support sustainability requirements in tenders and customer reporting.
How Guarantees of Origin Work
A typical GO lifecycle includes:
– A renewable generator produces electricity and reports metered output
– The issuer creates GOs (typically 1 GO per 1 MWh)
– Certificates are traded or transferred to suppliers, CPOs, or corporate buyers
– The buyer cancels the GO to make a valid renewable consumption claim
– Cancellation information is used for audits, disclosure, and reporting
The key step is cancellation—owning a GO is not the same as claiming renewable consumption unless it is cancelled for that purpose.
Guarantees of Origin vs Renewable Power Purchase Agreements
Both can support renewable electricity claims, but they are not the same:
– GOs certify renewable attributes for a defined quantity of electricity and can be purchased separately from a physical electricity supply
– A renewable PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) is a contractual purchase of renewable electricity (often long-term) and may include associated certificates depending on the structure
– Many organizations use GOs for flexible, short-term coverage and PPAs for long-term price stability and additionality goals
Using Guarantees of Origin in EV Charging Reporting
Common EV charging reporting approaches include:
– Cancelling GOs for the electricity used by chargers at a site (kWh matched to GO volume)
– Cancelling GOs at the portfolio level for a network of chargers
– Providing customers with renewable electricity statements for charging sessions or monthly summaries
– Linking GO coverage to metering data (site meters or charger meters) to ensure traceability
Where billing-grade data is required, MID metering can strengthen reporting credibility.
Key Considerations and Limitations
GOs can support strong claims when used correctly, but require careful governance:
– Claims depend on proper cancellation, not just purchase
– Market prices and availability vary by country and technology
– GOs are an attribute system and do not physically “route” electrons to a specific charger
– Some buyers may require additional criteria (e.g., local origin, technology type, vintage)
– Reporting frameworks may have specific rules for market-based Scope 2 claims
Related Glossary Terms
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Renewable Charging
Scope 2 Emissions
Market-based Accounting
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
Carbon Reporting
Energy Attribute Certificates
Green Tariff
MID Metering
Fleet CO₂ Reporting