What are Granular Certificates?
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Granular Certificates (GCs) are the next evolution of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), designed to track clean energy generation at an hourly or sub-hourly level. Unlike traditional RECs, which typically account for renewable electricity on an annual or monthly basis, GCs provide precise time, location, and environmental impact data for every unit of renewable energy produced. This advancement enables 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy (CFE) matching, improved carbon accounting, and greater transparency in clean energy procurement.
"We support “stamping” each megawatt-hour with its specific carbon impact rather than solely focusing on the hourly energy volume."
-The Emissions First Partnership
As corporations, utilities, and grid operators transition to 24/7 CFE commitments, the need for hourly-matched clean energy tracking is rapidly increasing. Granular Certificates:
Enable true 24/7 carbon-free energy claims by ensuring clean energy is matched with real-time consumption.
Support corporate sustainability goals by improving Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions reporting under the GHG Protocol.
Facilitate energy storage monetization, allowing batteries to issue GCs for time-shifted renewable energy.
Enhance regulatory compliance with emerging policies that require sub-hourly tracking of clean energy procurement (e.g., EU’s RED III and SEC climate disclosure rules).
Unlock new revenue streams for renewable generators by allowing them to sell premium, time-matched energy attributes in high-demand periods.
The Granular Registry is the infrastructure that enables the issuance, trading, and retirement of GCs, ensuring market interoperability, data integrity, and transparent transactions. By integrating with existing REC registries, The Granular Registry provides a seamless transition for energy buyers and producers looking to adopt high-resolution energy tracking and monetize time-based clean energy attributes.
With Granular Certificates, the clean energy industry is moving beyond static RECs toward a more dynamic, verifiable, and impactful approach to renewable energy procurement.
