Guarantees of Origin

The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for issuing guarantees of origin for the generation of electricity and heating and cooling energy generated from renewable energy sources.  

According to the most recent wording of Decree-Law 141/2010 of 31 December, the Issuing Entity for Guarantees of Origin has the following competences: 

• Implementing and managing the system for issuing guarantees of origin, including the electronic registration, issuance, transmission, and cancellation of the respective proofs.
• Carrying out, directly or through external auditors, auditing actions to monitor the facilities and equipment for generation from renewable energy sources, as well as the energy measuring equipment that enables and ensures the correct qualification of the facilities and the guarantee or certification of origin of the electricity and of the energy generated for heating and cooling. 
• Making available for public consultation relevant and non-confidential information concerning the issuing of guarantees and certificates of origin. 
• Conducting all the actions and procedures necessary for the performance of its duties. 

The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is supervised by Entidade Nacional para o Setor Energético, E. P. E., which publishes on its website an annual summary report of the actions carried out. 

For additional information, contact EEGO. 

The Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for issuing certificates and guarantees of origin for electricity generated in cogeneration facilities that operate in an efficient and high-efficiency regime, respectively.  

According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for developing and managing the system for issuing guarantees, including registering, issuing, transmitting, and cancelling the respective guarantees electronically, as well as auditing and monitoring the facilities and the generation and measurement equipment to ensure the correct qualification of the facilities and the certification of the origin of the energy generated.

According to the most recent version of Decree-Law 23/2010 of 25 March, the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity is responsible for auditing and monitoring cogeneration facilities and equipment, as well as energy measurement equipment, in order to allow and ensure the correct qualification of the facilities and the guarantee or certification of origin of the electricity generated. Audits are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Manual of Procedures of the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity, with three types contemplated:

Initial: a set of checks and tests are carried out to confirm that the facilities that transition to the new certification comply with the applicable regulatory provisions so that the generation of electricity may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin. 

Periodic: a series of checks and tests are carried out periodically, in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, aimed at confirming that the Generation Facility continues to comply with the applicable regulatory provisions so that the generation of electrical energy may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin. 

Extraordinary: at the request of one of the interested parties, a set of verifications and tests are carried out in order to assess whether the Generation Facility meets or continues to meet the applicable regulatory provisions, so that the generation of electricity may be certified by guarantees or certificates of origin. 

The audits are carried out directly by the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity or through duly qualified auditors, whose regime of access to the provision of auditing services for cogeneration-based generation facilities or generation from renewable energy sources is established by Law 75/2015 of 28 July. The auditor for the execution of a given audit is chosen on the basis of objective, transparent, and non-discriminatory criteria.

Joining the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity System happens under the terms established in the Procedures Manual of this entity. Registration is carried out electronically through the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity System by means of an application process. Participants must enter into a registration contract with the Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity, committing to comply with the provisions set out in the entity’s Manual of Procedures, as well as those established in all applicable legal and regulatory provisions. 

For conducting import and export transactions for Guarantees of Origin under the pan-European Energy Certificate System, participants must also accept the rules and obligations established by the Association of Issuing Bodies, including the so-called “Standard Terms and Conditions Between The AIB Hub Participant and the Market Participant”.  

For additional information, contact EEGO.