Guarantees of Origin for Renewable Electricity—in Sweden and Globally
Guarantees of Origin are what enable you to demonstrate that your electricity is renewable and to report it accurately in your climate reporting. We purchase and cancel the appropriate certificates on your behalf in all countries where you operate, and help you understand what the new rules for electricity reporting mean for you.
Renewable electricity in all countries where you operate
Guarantees of Origin – How GOO Affects Your Climate Report
Electricity is reported under Scope 2 according to the GHG Protocol, and companies report two values. The market-based value reflects the electricity you have purchased: with canceled guarantees of origin, it is counted as renewable. The location-based value reflects the generation mix in the power grid where you consume the electricity and is not affected by the certificates.
Without guarantees of origin, you instead use the residual mix, which is the electricity that remains after all origin-labeled electricity has been deducted. The residual mix therefore has significantly higher emissions. Both values are required in “ CSRD ” reporting according to ESRS E1.
New rules for electricity reporting
The GHG Protocol is currently revising its guidance for Scope 2. Among the proposals are hourly matching—where certificates must correspond to consumption hour by hour rather than annually—and a requirement that electricity be physically deliverable to the same market. SBTi’s updated v2.0 standard has also introduced this type of requirement for the purchase of electricity certificates.
The proposals have faced criticism during the public comment period, and updated guidance is expected no earlier than early 2027. We are monitoring the process and will help you make purchases that remain valid even as the rules become stricter.
Certificates of Origin or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?
Guarantees of Origin are an accounting tool: they ensure that renewable electricity is counted only once—by the purchaser—and contribute marginally to increased revenue for producers of renewable electricity. If you also want to contribute directly to the development of new renewable energy capacity, the next step is a long-term electricity contract directly with a producer—a so-called PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). Many companies combine both approaches, and we’ll help you find the right balance.
Here’s how it works:
1. You provide your electricity consumption by country and year.
2. We prepare a price estimate and suggest energy types and sources.
3. We purchase and cancel the certificates in your name in the respective country’s registry.
4. You receive cancellation certificates and a comprehensive summary, ready for auditing and climate reporting.
Guarantees of Origin Expert Support
Henrik Juhlin is the CEO of ZeroMission and previously served as Head of Power Management at Vattenfall. He has cutting-edge expertise in energy, technology, and finance, as well as in the markets for carbon credits, the EU ETS, and EAC—certificates that serve as guarantees of origin.
Why you should buy guarantees of origin from ZeroMission:
• Expertise in the electricity market. Advice on guarantees of origin, PPAs, and how renewable electricity fits into your path to net zero.
• A solution for all countries. We purchase and retire certificates for all your electricity consumption at once, regardless of where you operate.
• Independence. We are not affiliated with any electricity provider, which gives us broad market access and competitive prices.
• A simple and secure process. You share your consumption data; we handle the purchasing and cancellation.
• Audit-ready documentation. Cancellation certificates and summaries that meet the requirements for climate reporting and CSRD reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guarantees of Origin for Electricity
Background on Guarantees of Origin
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What is a certificate of origin?
A guarantee of origin is an electronic certificate that shows how 1 MWh of electricity was generated—for example, using wind, hydro, or solar power. In Sweden, the Swedish Energy Agency is responsible for the registry, and the system is regulated by the Act (2010:601) on Guarantees of Origin for Energy.
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How does origin-labelled electricity work?
The producer receives a guarantee of origin for every megawatt-hour produced and can sell it on an open market. The buyer purchases as many certificates as their electricity consumption. When the certificate is canceled in your name, it cannot be resold, which prevents double counting. It is the cancellation certificate that shows that the renewable electricity is credited to you.
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Where does my electricity come from?
The electricity coming out of the outlet is a mix of all the power generated in the grid, so it’s not possible to physically track it. With guarantees of origin, you can instead demonstrate through a contract that a certain amount of renewable electricity has been generated on your behalf.
How Guarantees of Origin Affect the Carbon Footprint
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Do guarantees of origin help increase the production of renewable electricity?
Guarantees of origin provide producers with an additional source of revenue and signal demand for renewable electricity, but the extent to which they influence new investments is a matter of debate. If you want to contribute directly to new production, a PPA is a more effective tool—and we’ll help you weigh the options against one another.
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Are guarantees of origin included in " CSRD" reporting?
Yes, in the market-based Scope 2 figure. ESRS E1 requires you to report both market-based and site-based Scope 2 emissions, and the certificates only affect the former.
The Difference Between a Guarantee of Origin and an Electricity Certificate
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What is the difference between guarantees of origin and electricity certificates?
Guarantees of origin indicate where electricity comes from and are used by electricity consumers. Electricity certificates are a separate support system that has been used to expand renewable electricity production in Sweden and Norway. The two systems should not be confused.
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