Renewable energy certificates (RECs) are tradable credits that allow buyers to claim the environmental attributes of renewable generation for accounting purposes even if the physical electricity they consume is generated from other sources such as coal or natural gas.
high
definition
Mechanism used in electricity markets to attribute renewable generation to purchasers.
Accounting systems that separate renewable energy attribute certificates from physical electricity flows can make it difficult for utilities and grid planners to determine how much electricity is actually being generated from specific sources and how much is being consumed.
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process
Implication of using attribute-based accounting for renewable energy on grid planning and reliability assessments.