Guarantees of Origin
Whether you’re looking for energy guarantees of origin (GOs) for your own consumption, registering your production or for selling purposes, we have you covered. At Fortum, we provide you Guarantees of Origin for renewable (wind, solar and hydro power) and nuclear power as well as for heating and cooling.
Guarantees of origin in short
Clean or renewable energy sources
Guarantees of origin certificates in EU verify companies’ claims that the electricity or energy they use is generated from clean or renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy documentation
Purchasing and using renewable energy guarantees of origin is the only way to reliably document renewable energy consumption in Europe.
Renewable and nuclear power
Guarantees of origin can be bought for renewable (wind, solar and hydropower) and nuclear power as well as other forms of clean energy.
Energy disclosure
The main purpose of Guarantees of Origin certificates is energy disclosure. Consumers can choose the generation origin based on their preferences. Similarly, energy sellers can differentiate their products.
Why choose Fortum as your GO provider?
Fortum is one of the cleanest energy producers in Europe with 98% of our power generation being CO2-free. Our clean Nordic portfolio consists of over 200 power plants offering a wide selection and large volumes of Guarantees of origin for renewables and nuclear power.
- Looking for a specific location, source, or energy mix? We can cover all or part of your consumption with guarantees of origin.
- We offer CO2-free GOs for renewables and nuclear power.
- We provide bilateral trading of Guarantees of origin for the spot market, standard delivery dates, and forward products
- Our diverse offering enables tailor-made solutions according to your needs.
- With our extensive portfolio, we can cater for the large volumes and specific needs of energy-intensive industries.
Why use Guarantees of Origin?
Emissions reduction
Guarantees of origin are ideal for companies that seek a simple solution to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their emissions.
Disclosure
Companies in Europe must use guarantees of origin to disclose the usage of clean energy. If origin is not specified companies must disclose energy consumption according to the national residual mix.
Green claims and branding
Mandatory when making claims of renewable energy usage.
Driving green transition
Using Guarantees of origin helps to drive increased demand for CO2- free power as companies aim to reduce their emissions through clean energy consumption.
Transparency
Guarantees of origin are the only reliable way to track the use of renewable energy.
What is a Guarantee of Origin?
A Guarantee of origin tracks the source of the power bought by companies and energy suppliers to the power plant that is producing it. It is a voluntary market-based system in Europe aiming to drive clean power generation and consumption.
Guarantees of origin give you the assurance that the electricity you are purchasing is CO2-free. It is mandatory for both energy suppliers as well as large consumers of energy to disclose the origin of the energy they are producing and consuming. Guarantees of origin are typically used to trace the origin of renewable power. However, they can also be purchased for nuclear power.
Not all European electricity is tracked with guarantees of origin yet. All electricity that is not tracked by guarantees of origin is considered as residual mix. The electricity residual mix of a country shows the sources of the electricity supply that is not covered with Guarantees of Origin. This is a key to avoiding double counting of the same amount of electricity from a certain energy source as all electricity is counted. If you do not purchase guarantees of origin, the electricity you are purchasing is counted as residual mix. Residual mix often includes electricity made by fossil fuels and hence increases the companies’ emissions.
Besides electricity, guarantees of origin are also used for other forms of clean energy. At Fortum, we provide guarantees of origin for heating and cooling in addition to power, but the same system is also used for biogas and hydrogen.
How does it work?
Guarantees of origin are issued for every MWh of energy produced by a certain source and are valid for one year from the moment the specific MWh of clean energy was produced. GOs are typically bought on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis to match consumption.
Guarantees of origin can be purchased separately from your power purchases or bundled into a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). There doesn’t necessarily have to be a physical link between the plant where the GO is produced and where it is consumed. You as a customer can purchase electricity from one source and GOs from another.
Electricity Disclosure - Reliable Disclosure Systems for Europe (reliable-disclosure.org)
Our environmental value products:
Eco-labeled electricity
El-certificates
Emission allowances
Origin of electricity
The Guarantee of Origin is a certificate ensuring that the electricity has been produced from renewable energy sources in accordance with Directive 2001/77/EC.
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"[…] This wind power agreement is a natural continuation of the previous investments in circular economy and bioenergy that reduce emissions at the Koskenkorva distillery. We have been working with Fortum for a long time and this agreement deepens our cooperation in a natural way.”
Miika Jokinen Business Unit Director, Industrial Products & Services, Anora
Contact us
Joni Vuorela
Green Trading Desk Manager
Tel: +358 40 509 4906
joni [dot] vuorela [at] fortum [dot] com
More about green energy
Frequently asked questions - Guarantees of Origin
What is a guarantee of origin?
A Guarantee of Origin (GO) verifies the source of energy production, typically renewable or clean energy. It serves as proof that a certain amount of energy has been produced from clean power sources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass or nuclear power. Guarantees of origin is most typically used for power purchases but it can also be used for other clean energy sources such as hydrogen.
Renewable energy certificates are used in the power market to provide transparency and assurance to businesses that the electricity they are purchasing comes from renewable or clean sources. Renewable energy guarantees of origin also support renewable energy producers by allowing them to sell the environmental attributes of their electricity separately from the physical electricity itself.
Why are guarantees of origin important?
- Guarantees of origin provide transparency in the energy market by verifying the origin of electricity. This transparency builds trust among consumers and businesses by ensuring where the energy they are purchasing comes from.
- GOs create a market for renewable energy attributes, providing financial incentives for renewable and clean energy producers.
- By buying GOs companies support renewable energy producers and hence help to drive the transition towards cleaner energy sources.
- In many regions, there are regulatory requirements on how to disclose the usage of renewable or clean energy. Guarantees of origin is the mandatory way in Europe for disclosure.
- Consumer Choice and Awareness: By offering certified renewable energy options, GOs empower consumers to make informed choices about their energy consumption. Consumers and businesses who prioritize sustainability can choose to support renewable energy production by selecting electricity with GO certification.
What information does a guarantee of origin include?
Guarantee of origin includes the following information:
- Energy Source
- Production time
- Name of the generation unit
- Location
- Commissioning date
- Capacity of the station
- Financial support (if provided)
- Date and country of issuance
How are Guarantees of origin certificates issued?
Guarantees of origin for renewable energy are often issued once a month for the production of the previous month. The guarantees of origin must be used within one year after energy production. After 12 months the registry administrator will cancel unused guarantees of origin automatically and they will no longer be available. To be issued renewable energy guarantees of origin, the power plant operator must prove that the plant meets requirements concerning method of electricity production, energy source used and reliable energy metering.