Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin (REGO) Explained

Your electricity provider claims it’s 100% green. But what if those certificates proving it never actually touch your power supply? REGO certificates are a digital sleight of hand—proof that renewable energy exists somewhere, at some moment, generated by some technology. Yet they disconnect entirely from the electrons flowing into your home. Companies buy them. Ofgem issues them. Everyone wins. Everyone claims victory. But you’re left wondering: are you actually buying green energy, or just permission to feel like you are?

What Is a REGO Certificate and How Does It Work?

A REGO is basically a digital receipt. It proves one megawatt-hour of electricity came from renewable sources. That’s it. Nothing fancy.

Ofgem issues these certificates in the UK. Each one gets tagged with specific details: the facility’s location, the technology used (wind, solar, hydro), and when the energy was generated. Think of it as a birth certificate for clean electricity. The certificate also includes a unique identification number assigned at the time of issue. By default, certificates are timestamped at the hour of generation or dispatch, providing precise tracking of when the renewable electricity was produced.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Certificate ownership can transfer between parties through trading platforms. You buy one, it’s yours. When you use it as proof of renewable energy? It gets permanently retired. Cancelled. Done. This retirement process ensures that energy procurement strategies can be verified and validated for sustainability reporting. REGOs play a crucial role in managing energy effectively by providing transparent proof of renewable sourcing.

This prevents the same certificate from being counted twice. Because yeah, people would definitely try that.

How Do REGOs Track Energy From Generator to Claim?

When renewable electricity leaves a generator and enters the grid, it becomes impossible to physically track. Electrons don’t wear name tags. So how do you prove your power’s actually green?

Enter the chain of custody system. It’s basically a digital paper trail. Ofgem issues one REGO certificate for every megawatt-hour a renewable generator produces. That certificate gets a unique number. It moves through registries. Gets bought. Gets sold. Eventually, someone cancels it to make a renewable claim. The main objectives of this system are to inform consumers and avoid double counting of renewable attributes.

Metering accuracy matters here. A lot. The system only works if generators report exactly what they produce. No more certificates than actual clean electrons. That’s the whole point. Working with transparent energy brokers ensures your renewable claims are properly verified and documented. Proper documented procedures support regulatory compliance and validation of sustainability efforts. You’re not buying green energy directly. You’re buying proof it exists somewhere in your market. This approach lets organisations claim environmental benefits without needing direct physical energy delivery from the renewable source.

REGOs vs ROCs: Which Certificate Do You Need?

REGOs prove where your electricity came from. That’s it. One certificate per MWh of renewable generation, timestamped to the hour. They’re straightforward. No fancy banding systems.

REGOs are simple: one certificate equals one MWh of renewable electricity, timestamped hourly, with no complex banding to worry about.

ROCs? Way more complicated. They’re about supplier obligations, not tracking. Certificate valuation varies wildly depending on technology type—offshore wind gets two ROCs per MWh whilst other sources get different amounts. This banding structure creates market volatility that REGOs simply don’t have.

You’ll need REGOs if you’re making renewable energy claims for your business. Suppliers need ROCs to prove they’re meeting Ofgem’s mandatory renewable quotas—or they pay a buy-out fee. Implementing real-time reporting systems can help track your renewable energy certificates and ensure compliance with sustainability goals. Many businesses are also exploring renewable energy solutions to reduce their carbon footprint whilst managing procurement costs.

Different certificates. Different jobs. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re interchangeable.

Who Can Get REGO Certificates and How Do You Apply?

Getting your hands on REGO certificates isn’t some exclusive club—but you do need to meet Ofgem’s requirements. If you’re generating renewable electricity in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, you’re in the running. Community projects and commercial generators alike can apply. Even smaller setups under 50kW qualify using MCS certification. By integrating advanced renewable energy technologies, businesses can maximise their generation capacity and eligibility for REGO accreditation. Our smart renewables integration approach ensures that your renewable generation is optimised for both financial returns and environmental impact.

The application process? Not exactly thrilling. You’ll create an account on the Renewables and CHP Register, upload your documents, and wait. Ofgem typically wraps up reviews within a few weeks.

Here’s the deal for landlord responsibilities: if you own the generating equipment, you handle the application. Once approved, you’ll get a REGO accreditation ID. Done.

Using REGO Certificates for Net Zero Reporting

Once you’ve got that REGO accreditation locked in, the real game begins: using those certificates to back up your net zero claims.

No more vague promises. No more “we’re working on it.” REGOs give you actual proof.

Here’s what these certificates do for your corporate accounting:

1. They slash your scope 2 emissions under the GHG Protocol’s market-based method
2. They satisfy RE100 requirements if you’ve made that commitment
3. They provide documentation for CDP disclosures and ESRS reporting
4. They create verifiable emissions tracking across your supply chain

Look, companies get called out for greenwashing constantly. It’s brutal out there.

But REGO certificates? They’re tangible evidence. Real documentation. The kind that holds up when stakeholders start asking tough questions about your net zero progress. Our compliance audit preparation services help identify where REGOs fit into your broader emissions reduction strategy.

Pairing REGOs with real-time monitoring tools ensures you’re tracking genuine energy performance improvements alongside your renewable energy claims.