Google, Microsoft Lead Call for Granular Energy Tracking in Europe

Google has joined forces with industry leaders, solution providers, non-profits, and advocates to urge the rapid implementation of Granular Guarantees of Origin (GOs) within the EU, enabled by the recent Renewable Energy Directive update. These advanced GOs are designed to enhance renewable energy tracking and verification by adding sub-hourly production times, offering multiple benefits for decarbonization efforts.

The EU’s renewable hydrogen regulations will mandate hourly matching of renewable electricity and hydrogen production by 2030. Granular GOs will enable this verification on a large scale, facilitating compliance for potential importers like the US. An industry spokesperson emphasized that harmonized tracking is crucial for establishing global markets for green hydrogen and other green products.

With the upcoming Green Claims Directive, accurate substantiation of green claims will be required. Granular GOs provide precise data on the origins of green electricity and hydrogen, supporting more detailed and credible clean energy claims. Granular matching aligns energy consumption with clean energy supply on an hourly basis, accelerating emission reductions. This approach creates incentives for investments in storage, demand response, and clean generation technologies. A research report by Riepen and Brown highlighted the importance of increasing the clean flexibility of the electricity system for a reliable, decarbonized grid.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive demands rigorous corporate disclosure. Granular GOs enable companies to provide detailed reports on their clean energy procurement, demonstrating the true impact of their sustainability goals. The EnergyTag Initiative has developed a standard for Granular GOs that integrates into existing registry software, proving its technical feasibility through global demonstrations. Some EU Issuing Bodies are already prepared to offer Granular Certificates.

EU Member States and Issuing Bodies must integrate Granular GOs into national frameworks and ensure timely issuance. This will enhance energy tracking, support green claims verification, and position the EU as a leader in energy market innovation. A collective of industry leaders stated their readiness to support Member States and Issuing Bodies in transforming energy origin tracking in Europe.