Since 1 December 2007, it has been possible to certify the renewable or high efficiency origin (cogeneration) of the electricity we consume, thanks to the System for Guarantee of Origin and Labelling of Electricity (GdO) implemented by the National Energy Commission.

Although power travels down electrical cables with no possibility of distinction, a specific distributor is able to guarantee that part (or even all) of the electrical output that they market is of "green" origin. To this end, certificates of guarantee are acquired by producers of renewable energy or cogeneration, thereby improving their mix of electrical energy sold through renewable sources.

In fact it is compulsory for all producers (even last resort ones) to provide information on the mix of energy marketed during the previous year, by publishing a label indicating the percentage of electricity produced from different sources, as well as CO2 emission and the production of radioactive waste, comparing them with the national average.

Image: Electricity Labelling (Environmental impact)
Source: CNE

Image: Electricity Labelling
Source: CNE

All this is regulated by Order ITC/1522/2007 and Circulars 2/2007 and 1/2008 of the National Energy Commission.

GNERA Energy processes the dispatch, transfer and redemption of Guarantees of Origin with the CNE. The installations represented by GNERA are all ‘special regime’ producers, or in other words they produce energy that is 100% from a renewable source or high efficiency.

• On the production side: accreditation and sale, where applicable, of the generation of electricity from a renewable source or from cogeneration
• On the marketing side: transfer of guarantees of origin to extend their 'green' energy mix.
• On the consumer side: range of guarantees of origin to certify 'green' electrical consumption.

Image: The operational process of guarantees of origin: accreditation of 'green' electricity, from the producer to the consumer (Source: GNERA)