International Renewable
Energy Certificates
What’s an I-REC?
An international renewable energy certificate (I-REC) represents transferrable proof that one MWh of electricity was produced from renewable energy sources and added to an electrical grid. Purchasing an I-REC allows the buyer to claim consumption of one MWh of renewable energy. I-RECs can originate from wind, solar, ocean energy, biomass, hydropower, landfill gas, aerothermal, geothermal, and landfill gas projects. Similar to a REC in North American, an I-REC represents the environmental attributes (but not the power) associated with renewable energy.
Renewable Energy
in International Markets: I-RECs
In more than 30 countries around the world, international renewable energy certificates
(I-RECs) provide corporate buyers with a credible mechanism to support renewable energy. Whether you’re looking to address the emissions footprint of a manufacturing plant in China, or an office building in Brazil, 3Degrees will help you develop an I-REC strategy that best matches your goals.
◉ I-REC (I-REC standard certificate)
I-REC features include:
- Location: 30+ countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East
- Governance: The I-REC Standard
- Technical Restriction: Issuance limitations vary by country
- Transparency: Verification processes ensure integrity and prevent double counting
- Supporters: CDP, RE100
I-REC Technology Options
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Small hydro |  |
Onshore wind |  |
Offshore wind |
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Large hydro |  |
Solar |  |
Biomass |
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Geothermal | ||||
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Small hydro |
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Onshore wind |
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Offshore wind |
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Large hydro |
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Solar |
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Biomass |
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Geothermal |
Regulatory Environment & Voluntary Standards
Although the same I-REC standard is applied in each country, the existence of diverse regulatory environments means that impacts and claims vary regionally. For example, although they meet essential Scope 2 quality criteria, not all I-RECs qualify for regulatory surplus. Additionally, CDP and RE100 reporting requirements impose strict geographic market boundaries for I-RECs.
3Degrees helps companies evaluate options for increasing their impact, such as adding ecolabel certification to their purchase. We are proud to be a licensed supplier of EKOenergy certified I-RECs.
3Degrees is the recipient of the 2023 EKOenergy Oak Award for the largest seller of EKOenergy-labelled electricity in 2022 and the 2023 EKOenergy Bamboo Award for the highest growth percentage of EKOenergy sales in the past year.
