| Legal basis | EU Renewable Energy Directive |
| Registries | National registries, linked for cross-border transfer by the AIB hub |
| Unit | 1 certificate = 1 MWh |
| Valid for | Consumption in the EU and other AIB member markets |
| Volume, 2025 | 1,091 TWh issued and 978 TWh cancelled, so about 90% of issuance is now used |
How buying works
Guarantees of Origin are transferred between registry accounts and cancelled for a named consumer, country and period. Most companies buy through their electricity supplier or a trader, who cancels on their behalf and provides the cancellation statement.
Public price references
Most GO prices are bilateral or behind paid assessments. Public reference points come from government auctions of state-held certificates, such as the French auctions run by EEX and the Slovak auctions run by OKTE. These are auction results for large lots, not prices for small orders.
What to check before buying
- Market. Under RE100, a GO counts across markets only within the EU single market and AIB membership, and not for the UK.
- Technology and vintage, which drive the price: recent Nordic hydro is typically the cheapest.
- Plant age if you report to RE100.
- Cancellation statement naming your entity, country and period.