Track electricity usage on an hourly basis so that green energy offerings can accelerate decarbonization

A certificate of origin is a document certifying that a certain amount of green electricity has been generated and fed into the European Union’s power grid.

However, this system is based on matching these certificates on a monthly basis. In other words, it is possible to link a guarantee of origin to any consumption within the same month, without verifying that production and consumption occurred at the same time or in the same place.

Consequently, by maximizing these spatial and temporal inconsistencies, it is possible to create 100% green energy packages very easily and without any nuance; this does not actually contribute to decarbonizing the power grid.

However, matching generation and consumption at a finer time scale (hourly or sub-hourly) would make it possible to fully reap the benefits of this traceability system: making carbon accounting more realistic; regaining consumer confidence; and accelerating the decarbonization of the electric power system.

Changes in European regulations and international standards are moving in this direction. The question is no longer whether the system will switch to an hourly time step, but when it will do so.

Carbone 4, in partnership with EnergyTag and Granular Energy for this initiative, offers some recommendations for a gradual transition to a rigorous system of guarantees of origin through a joint publication and its introductory webinar on November 14, 2024.

Track electricity usage on an hourly basis so that green energy offerings can accelerate decarbonization

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