All EU Member States are required to establish and maintain a REGO scheme under Directive 2001/77/EC, which was subsequently repealed and replaced by Directive 2009/28/EC. The purpose of the scheme is to promote and increase the contribution of renewable energy sources to electricity production across the EU, providing a common platform to facilitate the trade of renewable electricity between Member States. In addition the scheme sets out increased transparency to consumers, allowing them choice to purchase renewable or non-renewable electricity.
The scheme came into effect in October 2003 in Great Britain and November 2003 in Northern Ireland. The regulations governing the schemes were both amended in 2010. A REGO is a certificate issued by Ofgem to certify that the electricity in respect of which it was issued was produced from eligible renewable energy sources. We issue REGOs to accredited generating stations located in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. One REGO is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated (with effect from 5 December 2010). Prior to 5 December 2010 one REGO was issued for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of eligible renewable output generated. A REGO is used to prove that the unit of electricity generated is renewable. The primary use of REGOs in Great Britain and Northern Ireland is for Fuel Mix Disclosure (FMD). FMD requires licensed electricity suppliers to disclose to their customers, and potential customers, the mix of fuels (coal, gas, nuclear, renewable and other) used to generate the electricity supplied annually.
Further information:
If you have any questions relating to the REGO scheme, please call our dedicated Renewables team hotline on 020 7901 7310 or email: Renewable@ofgem.gov.uk in the first instance.