The National Agency for Energy Regulation (ANRE) has launched public consultations on the draft of the new Regulation regarding guarantees of origin for energy produced from renewable sources.

The document aims to establish a clear framework for the registration and management of information related to guarantees of origin, as well as procedures for their issuance, recognition, and trading, including within the context of regulations and recognition by EU member states and the Energy Community.

Among the benefits of this Regulation is the opportunity for renewable energy producers to generate additional revenue by trading guarantees of origin and for consumers to demonstrate compliance with sustainability standards. Until the 2023 amendment to the Law on the Promotion of the Use of Renewable Energy, guarantees of origin applied only to electricity from renewable sources. Now, they also apply to electricity, low-carbon gases (including hydrogen), and heating and/or cooling produced from renewable energy sources.

Carolina Novac, State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, welcomed the development of the new regulation and encouraged the business community to provide feedback.

“This regulation represents an important step in promoting renewable energy and liberalizing the energy market. It will create new business opportunities for both energy producers and consumers. Additionally, guarantees of origin will drive and promote the use of diverse renewable energy sources,” Carolina Novac emphasized during the launch of public consultations on the draft Regulation.

The proposed Regulation outlines the procedure for issuing guarantees of origin, which will be in electronic format and will certify that each MWh of energy produced originates from renewable sources.

These guarantees will be valid for 12 months from the production and delivery date of each MWh of energy. Furthermore, they will contain detailed information about the energy source, the type of power plant, production dates, financial support provided to producers, and the country and date of issuance.

ANRE will manage the Electronic Register of Guarantees of Origin, ensuring a transparent and accessible mechanism for all involved stakeholders. Previously, guarantees of origin were issued by Energocom as the central electricity supplier. Between February 2023 and January 2024, 74,195 guarantees of origin were issued, corresponding to 74.195 million kWh of electricity produced from renewable sources. The largest share of issued guarantees came from solar energy (69.8%), followed by biogas (18.9%) and wind energy (11.3%). Nearly half of the issued guarantees were used within their validity period.

According to the Energy Community Secretariat, the price of a guarantee of origin ranged between €0.2–0.8/MWh in 2023, increasing to €2/MWh in 2024. Looking ahead, due to European climate, social, and governance policies, prices are expected to rise. Consequently, these guarantees can be traded by renewable producers and purchased by large consumers, such as energy-intensive industries, aiming to improve their corporate sustainability goals.

Additionally, the Regulation will clarify procedures for recognizing guarantees of origin issued by authorities in other EU member states and contracting parties to the Energy Community Treaty, thereby strengthening the integration of the renewable energy market at the European level.