International REC (I‑REC)
Track global renewable electricity with confidence
International Renewable Energy Certificates (I‑RECs) let organizations outside Europe and North America credibly claim renewable electricity use. One certificate = 1 MWh. Issued where the power is produced, redeemed where the claim is made—fully auditable.
At a glance
- Scope: Operational in 60+ countries with 25+ accredited issuers.
- Volume: 188 TWh issued in H1‑2024; Brazil, China, Chile among largest markets.
- Standard owner: I‑TRACK Foundation (Stichting I‑REC), Netherlands.
- Label options: Supports impact labels like P‑RECs in fragile & energy‑poor regions.
See Sources section for references.
Good to know
- Each I‑REC contains production time, place, technology, and ownership history.
- Claims are valid only after redemption (cancellation) in the registry.
- Pairs well with 24/7 strategies using granular certificates for hourly matching.
The lifecycle
- Accreditation: A national/market issuer is accredited by the I‑TRACK Foundation.
- Registration: Generators register facilities (tech, capacity, meter data, eligibility rules).
- Issuance: 1 certificate per 1 MWh generated (after settlement rules).
- Transfer: Certificates can move between accounts/market actors.
- Redemption: Final owner redeems to make a usage claim (audit trail locked).
Governance roles: Code Manager, Issuers, Registrars, Market Participants, and optional Labelling Authorities.
Quality & additionality
- Eligibility rules: Country‑specific (e.g., FiT‑funded plants may be ineligible in some markets).
- Labels: Add social or temporal claims (e.g., P‑RECs). Labels never replace core certificate data.
- Granularity: For hourly matching, pair I‑RECs with recognized granular standards (e.g., EnergyTag).
Buyer journey
- Define scope: sites/years/load to cover; pick target disclosure (annual vs monthly/hourly).
- Select regions and eligible technologies (watch country rules) and consider impact labels.
- Contract via a supplier/broker or directly with generators; align certificate production period to your consumption period.
- Ensure redemption to your entity and collect redemption proofs for audit/ESG reporting.
Common pitfalls
- Claiming before redemption, or mixing vintages unrelated to consumption period.
- Ignoring local eligibility rules (e.g., baseline policies, FiT restrictions).
- Confusing labels with certificate type (labels add claims; they aren’t a different EAC).
I‑REC countries & issuing bodies (interactive)
FAQ
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What does one I‑REC represent? | Exactly 1 MWh of renewable electricity with attributes (time, place, tech, ownership history). |
| Do I‑RECs replace GOs or RECs? | No. They serve regions where EU GOs (AIB) or US RECs don’t apply. |
| How do I make a claim? | Ensure the certificate is redeemed to your entity for the same period/load you report. |
| Hourly/24×7 matching? | Use I‑RECs with recognized granular standards (EnergyTag) and matching tools. |
Pro tips
- Prioritize vintage alignment: match production month/quarter to your consumption period.
- Check country‑specific eligibility rules before purchasing.
- Use labels (e.g., P‑RECs) when you want verified social impact alongside renewable usage claims.
Key sources & further reading
- I‑TRACK Foundation (Stichting I‑REC): standard, issuers, world map, docs.
- I‑REC market statistics and updates (H1‑2024, 2025 updates).
- EU GOs reference: AIB (Association of Issuing Bodies) national datasheets & domain protocols.
- EU policy: Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/III).
- Granular (hourly) certificates: EnergyTag standard & guidance.
Meta suggestions
- Title: International REC (I‑REC): Countries, Issuing Bodies, and How It Works
- Meta description: Explore I‑RECs—what they are, how they work, eligibility rules, and market stats. Interactive map of I‑REC countries and issuers. Updated sources included.
- Slug: /international-rec-i-rec
- FAQ schema: mark up the FAQ table with FAQPage JSON‑LD for rich results.