The Renewable Energy Guarantees Origin (REGO) scheme was set up with the intention of making the electricity market more transparent by evidencing the alignment of customers energy to renewable sources.
REGOs have increased in popularity over the past 5 years with green credentials becoming increasing more desired and as part of striving for carbon neutrality or net zero. It seems to have become a common statement that by utilising REGOs, enables customers to say they are supplied by renewable energy and in many cases they use that as an excuse not to consider reducing consumption, which is our fundamental issue.
The simple fact is that unless a supply is directly linked to renewable generation, consumers will use electricity from the grid which includes sources including renewable, nuclear and gas.
Right now, it is perfectly legal for a supplier to sell a renewable contract, however to source all their energy from fossil fuel sources, then buy REGOs to market it as green.
Another viewpoint is that the financial purchasing of REGOs is support investment in renewable generation. While we would agree that there is some truth in this, back in 2024 REGOs were in short supply and prices per MWh of coverage increased dramatically, however it was not the generators who received these premiums, it was the finance houses that collectively acquired these for resale.
The good news is that there is a solution to achieve True Green even without onsite generation, UK Green Building Council sees renewable supplies as those that demonstrate additionality (where buying them directly leads to new, additional renewable generation).
At Corus, we are pleased to offer solutions offering 100% renewable electricity directly from over 3,000 independent UK generators. They are verified by the Matched Clean Power Index and match generated electricity to consumed electricity on a 30 minute basis. Furthermore, this opens the door to reclaim certain non energy costs which can end up financially beneficial for doing the right thing.
