| Standard | I-REC Standard, governed by the I-TRACK Foundation |
| Registry | Evident, owned by Xpansiv since November 2025 |
| Issued by | A local issuer in each country |
| Unit | 1 certificate = 1 MWh of renewable electricity |
| Valid for | Consumption in the same country as the generating plant |
| Recent volume | About 227 million issued and 187 million redeemed in January to July 2025, up 12% and 8% on a year earlier |
How buying works
I-RECs are held in registry accounts and change hands by transfer. A buyer's claim is made by redemption: the certificates are permanently retired for a named beneficiary, a reporting period and a consumption location, and the registry issues a redemption statement. You do not need your own registry account; a registry participant can redeem on your behalf, naming your legal entity.
What to check before buying
- Country. The certificate must come from the country where you consume the electricity.
- Vintage. Generation should fall in, or close to, your reporting year.
- Plant age. RE100 limits claims from plants older than 15 years. Ask for the commissioning date.
- Redemption statement. It should name your legal entity, the reporting period and the consumption location.
Recent changes
China stopped I-REC issuance in March 2025 and now recognises only its own Green Electricity Certificates. Other countries are building national schemes alongside I-REC, such as YEK-G in Türkiye. Check the current rule for each market in our guide.