Understanding RE100: What Are Credible Claims?

The global renewable energy market stands at an inflection point, with REC markets projected to reach $111 billion by 2030. Yet beneath these impressive numbers lies a complex web of credibility requirements, especially those that emerged from RE100, founded in 2014. What began as an experimental framework in an era of uncertain renewable claims — much like today's carbon markets — has evolved into a sophisticated standard embraced by tech giants like Apple and Google.

The Six Criteria

Under RE100's technical framework, six fundamental criteria determine the credibility of a renewable claim. Before we dive in, we should note that RE100 draws important distinctions between renewable technologies. Wind, solar, and geothermal receive automatic acceptance, while hydropower and biomass require additional third-party certification to verify ecological sustainability. This reflects concerns about biodiversity impacts from hydropower projects and the need for sustainable biomass sourcing

1. Credible Generation Data

All renewable energy claims must be backed by third-party verified static data and metered generation quantities. This ensures transparency and reliability in reporting. The European Union's Guarantees of Origin (GOs) system exemplifies this through government-managed verification processes. Unlike the early days of voluntary standards in 2014, today's European GO market has evolved into a well-structured system with robust data verification mechanisms.

2. Attribute Aggregation

One of RE100's most distinctive requirements is the unified ownership of environmental and social attributes. This prevents the problematic practice of splitting renewable attributes (like carbon reduction and technology type) into separate tradable instruments. Some market participants have attempted to break down attributes into individual pieces aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals - separating claims about clean water, poverty reduction, and education into distinct tradable units. RE100's framework explicitly prevents this fragmentation.

3. Exclusive Ownership

The framework mandates clear documentation of ownership rights to prevent double counting. This is particularly relevant in markets like the European Union, where the AIB maintains a unified registry system. Poland offers an interesting case study - their unique implementation requires a "video game trade offer style" transaction system where both parties must actively accept transfers, differing from the standard European approach of simple unilateral transfers.

4. Exclusive Claims

Building on ownership rights, RE100 requires that no duplicate claims can exist for the same renewable attributes. This becomes especially important in markets like Costa Rica, where despite having [99% renewable grid electricity](https://www.tni.org/en/article/public-energy-and-the-popular-struggle-for-democracy-in-costa-rica#:~:text=The Costa Rican electricity system&text=The electricity grid has more,has had access to electricity.), companies must still procure certificates to make exclusive claims. This requirement challenges the assumption that high renewable penetration automatically eliminates the need for attribute tracking systems.

5. Geographic Market Boundaries

RE100 enforces strict geographical limitations on attribute trading. For instance, in Europe, the "single energy market" concept requires both EU single market membership and AIB membership. This creates interesting dynamics for RE100 rules, where Ireland, despite having a singular physical grid connection to mainland Europe through the UK (itself now with non-EU-recognised REGOs, operates as a separate market and is an individual market for renewable electricity. Similarly, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia face limitations due to either AIB membership status or EU market participation.

The market implications are significant - Nordic hydropower currently dominates pricing in the European market, with limited price premiums for solar or wind despite RE100's preference for these technologies. Some market participants speculate that stronger regional restrictions could lead to higher price volatility and reduced market liquidity.

6. Vintage Limitations

Generation timing must reasonably match consumption periods. While RE100 doesn't explicitly define "reasonable," market practice typically allows for 12-month trading periods plus a 6-month usage window. Some organizations opt for stricter monthly matching, the broader trend of the EU GO market, though market infrastructure constraints and transaction costs currently limit more granular matching timeframes.

For facility age, RE100 generally requires installations to be less than 15 years old, though there's an interesting exception allowing older facilities for up to 15% of claims when total renewable usage is below 50%. Some buyers impose even stricter five-year age limits to support newer projects..

Conclusion

RE100's framework has evolved from an experimental standard to a comprehensive system shaping corporate renewable energy procurement. While some utilities predict the GO market's obsolescence by 2030 due to increasing renewable penetration, the Costa Rica example suggests that attribute tracking systems remain valuable even in highly renewable grids. The framework's emphasis on credible claims, prevention of attribute splitting, and geographical limitations continues to influence market development and corporate sustainability strategies.

For deeper insights into RE100's criteria and their market implications, listen to our detailed podcast discussion or visit RE100's comprehensive resource portal.

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