GO Registries Explained: Tracking Renewable Energy in Europe

The Guarantee of Origin (GO) is Europe’s standard certificate for tracking renewable electricity. One GO is issued for every 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable power generated. These certificates prove where the electricity came from and allow companies and consumers to claim the use of renewable energy. Although GOs are separate from the electricity itself, they are key to building a transparent market across borders. To coordinate this system across countries, the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) was established. It brings together national registries under a shared structure that helps make renewable energy tracking more reliable, transparent, and comparable across countries.

How AIB Operates

Each country appoints an official body to issue Guarantees of Origin and manage its national registry. These registries can apply to become members of the AIB, which provides shared governance, technical infrastructure, and a unified approach to certificate handling across Europe. Once part of the AIB, members can choose to participate in the EECS Electricity Scheme. It is a standardized framework that defines how GOs are issued, transferred, and redeemed. Only registries that are members of this Electricity Scheme can trade EECS GOs across borders through the AIB Hub. AIB Hub is a central platform that connects national registries into one secure network, making cross-border certificate transfers possible. While each country still manages its own registry, the AIB Hub allows them to communicate and exchange GOs. If a GO is used in one country, it is canceled in the registry where it was issued. This mechanism prevents double counting and ensures that each renewable energy claim is valid and traceable.

Who’s Part of the AIB System

As of the end of 2024, the AIB had 39 members representing 30 European countries. Most of them are fully connected to the EECS Electricity Scheme, meaning they can issue EECS GOs and trade them through the AIB Hub. The rest are either newly accepted members working on technical integration, or observers. A few EU countries, such as Poland and Romania, operate GO registries but are not yet connected to the Hub. Their GOs can only be used domestically and are not integrated into the cross-border trading system. Some countries operate outside the AIB system entirely. For instance, the United Kingdom uses its own REGO scheme, which is not connected to the AIB Hub. Below is a table summarizing the national GO registries and their AIB membership status. For the most up-to-date information you can refer to the AIB website.

GO Registries