News from RE100

To keep up with the market dynamic, on October 24 the RE100, a global project to encourage the use of renewable power, updated its “Technical Criteria” for renewable electricity purchased by its members.

RE100 has made two significant adjustments to the technical requirements following meetings with its members, a public consultation and consultation with its technical advisory group (TAG). These modifications include clearer guidelines on credible procurement across Europe, as well as the need for renewable power purchases to be focused on new projects.

Power plant age limit

The RE100 technical standards now require renewable electricity purchases to adhere to a 15-year commissioning or re-powering date constraint. This might shift the procurement of Guarantees of Origin from large hydropower facilities to newly renewable installed capacity, such as solar or wind power plants.

The purpose of this modification is to highlight the crucial role of new renewable generation in the energy transition, and subsequently to push the demand for renewable electricity coming from these power plants. At the same time, this move will enhance the credibility of the RE100 member claims.

Furthermore, stronger standards are set for power generating energy sources. While wind, solar, and geothermal have no constraints, the RE100 technical standards require biomass (including biogas) and hydropower to be sourced from sustainable sources.

Market boundaries new criteria

Market boundaries play a key role for claims to use of renewable electricity. In fact, renewable electricity consumption claims can only be credible if it corresponds to renewable electricity generated in the same market for which the claim is made in.

RE100 modified its definition of single market for renewable electricity in Europe, that will be composed by nations and territories that satisfy all the following criteria:

• The country is a member of the EU’s single market
• The country is a member of the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB)
• The country is grid-connected with another country that meets the first two requirements