Renewable Energy
Certificates

What’s a REC?

A renewable energy certificate (REC) is a market-based instrument that is used to claim consumption of one megawatt-hour of energy produced. A REC represents the environmental attributes, but not the power, associated with renewable energy, and may be purchased with (bundled) or separate from (unbundled) the underlying power.

Reducing your scope 2 impact with high-quality RECs

Renewable energy certificates (RECs) allow organizations to reduce the environmental impact of their scope 2 emissions in North America by matching their electricity use with RECs. By investing in RECs, organizations can help increase demand for renewable energy — encouraging the development of new renewable energy projects and providing project owners with additional revenue that goes beyond selling the project’s electricity. RECs can be used to meet voluntary goals or compliance obligations, such as renewable portfolio standards (RPS).

Who Purchases RECs

Businesses and organizations

Green building professionals

  • To qualify for LEED points
  • To mitigate the environmental impact of the electricity used in their buildings

Utilities

  • To offer their customers green power through voluntary programs
  • To meet state-mandated renewable energy goals

A Custom Approach

At 3Degrees, we work with each client to develop a REC portfolio sourced from renewable energy projects that meet their specific goals. Our custom portfolio approach often includes:

  • U.S. Green Power RECs – sourced from U.S. renewable energy projects that use Green-e® approved technologies.
  • Compliance RECs – used by utilities to meet a particular state’s renewable energy regulatory requirements.
  • Project-specific RECs – sourced from a specific renewable energy project that meets a client’s needs.

3Degrees also does custom origination for clients who have specific co-benefit goals or other criteria, and will conduct a tailored search for renewable energy project developers that deliver on those criteria. Examples of custom projects include:

Portfolio approach: Multi-year purchase of a diversified portfolio of projects, including critical support for a new solar project

  • Designed to protect wetlands
  • Supported over 40 local jobs
Innovative REC PPA: Multi-year support for a distributed solar and wind hybrid project

  • Supports innovative technologies
  • Shorter-term commitment than most VPPAs
  • Proximity to buyer’s load

Portfolio approach: Multi-year purchase of a diversified portfolio of projects, including critical support for a new solar project

  • Designed to protect wetlands
  • Supported over 40 local jobs

Innovative REC PPA: Multi-year support for a distributed solar and wind hybrid project

  • Supports innovative technologies
  • Shorter-term commitment than most VPPAs
  • Proximity to buyer’s load

The team at 3Degrees has been great to work with. They're friendly, responsive, and help us provide quick solutions for our business needs.”

— Jennifer Argote, Energy & REC Sales, EDP Renewables

Green-e Energy Certified3Degrees provides products that are Green-e Energy® certified and meet the environmental and consumer protection standards set forth by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. Green-e Energy® certified RECs are independently audited to ensure that only one customer claims credit for each REC and the MWh of renewable electricity generation it represents. Learn more at green-e.org.