On January 26, the Energy Community revealed its plan to create an electronic system for Guarantees of Origin (GOs) in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, and Ukraine.
GOs are electronic certificates providing proof to end-users that electricity they use was generated by renewable energy. These certificates are widely used in European countries, such as Norway and Switzerland.
In 2006, the Energy Community was established to extend the EU's internal energy market to nations in Southeastern Europe, leading to the creation of a pan-European energy market. The Energy Community Secretariat signed a contract with service provider Grexel last December to implement an electronic system to manage the issuance, transfer, and cancellation of GOs in accordance with EU principles, allowing each country to have their own national registry while also trading GOs regionally.
Artur Lorkowski, the director of the secretariat, said: “Guarantees of Origin can be a game changer in terms of encouraging new renewable energy investment. Furthermore, it will provide the Contracting Parties with a head start in implementing the Renewable Energy Directive, which is one of the core components of the recently adopted Clean Energy Package.”
“The national electronic registry for each issuing body will comply with the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) and the European Energy Certificate System (EECS), while the regional system will allow for GO trading among the Energy Community Contracting Parties,” stated spokesperson Barbora Poyner.
According to Poyner, although timeline has yet to be set, Contracting Parties will be required to apply for membership of the Association of Issuing Bodies, which is in charge of overseeing the EECS. National registrations will be allowed to “link to the AIB hub provided all other prerequisites are completed.”
“The majority of Contracting Countries want to join the AIB while hoping that the REDII's trade limitations on EU Member States would be lifted shortly. The Energy Community Secretariat and the AIB signed a memorandum of understanding last year to help the Contracting Parties along that route.”
The project will be launched in June 2022 if all members of the Energy Community cooperate.
