Carbon-Free Chronicles: the essential round up of news and reports relating to 24/7 clean energy - May 2024

We constantly see more content, education, reports, news and announcements shared on the topic of certificate management, 24/7 carbon-free energy and clean energy sourcing. Here we highlight the best news and reports alongside our own regular insight articles from May 2024.

What we’re reading

JERA, first to launch hourly matching in Japan

• Japanese energy company JERA has announced a service for hourly matching to prevent misleading sourcing claims and promote wind and geothermal power.
• A first in Japan, JERA Co., Inc. is collaborating with the University of Tokyo to develop a system to monitor the flow of both generation and consumption, and highlight on an hourly basis what derives from renewable sources.
• They plan to introduce the service to their customer Toho Studios, one of the largest movie studios in Japan, later this year
• JERA also is considering offering their product to electric power companies to establish a power management framework that accurately measures CO2 emissions in Japan.

Energy buyers & suppliers develop Clean Transition Tariffs

• Google, Microsoft , Amazon , Nucor Corporation and Duke Energy Corporation ( Lon Huber ) have announced an MOU to explore the development of new tariffs enabling carbon-free energy hourly matching
• They will develop new tariffs designed to lower the long-term costs of investing in clean energy technologies such as new nuclear and long-duration storage through early commitment mechanisms.
• Within this framework the group will also explore ‘Clean Transition Tariffs’. Duke Energy will provide specific and detailed matching of clean energy generation to customer load. This tariff will be dedicated to commercial and industrial customers seeking to advance their clean energy goals.

Worried about hourly matching? Your utility has answers

• Our CEO Toby Ferenczi wrote an article for Latitude Media, sharing his views of the 45V tax credit for hydrogen.
• He highlights utilities have a key role in facilitating the implementation of hourly matching requirements for clean hydrogen production, ensuring compliance with the 45V tax credit and supporting decarbonization.
• Research shows that the cost of hourly matching will be offset by the 45V tax credit, making it economically viable.
• Utilities can balance diverse energy sources, offer new pricing structures, and help hydrogen producers meet time-matching, deliverability, and additionality requirements.
• Transitioning to time-stamped energy attribute certificates will be critical to clean energy pricing and promoting technologies for a zero-carbon energy system.

What we’re writing

A2A, first Italian supplier to launch hourly matching

• A2A , one of Italy's largest energy suppliers, has launched their "Green Energy Match" product, providing B2B customers with hourly visibility into their clean energy usage.
• They offer detailed insights into renewable energy generation and consumption, enhancing transparency and traceability on top of guarantees of origin. We're proud to enable and support this product.

System implications of 24/7 CFE

• In collaboration with National Grid ESO, AFRY , and Nord Pool, we are working on a project to explore the system and operational implications of 24/7 CFE trading.
• The project will focus on the roles of the energy system operator, CO2 emissions management and transmission constraints.
• We held a webinar to introduce the project's objectives and next steps. Have a look at the recording and slides here.

Green certificates in Germany

• Pal Habsburg-Lothringen, who leads our work in DACH, joined Ilan Momber ??????? on the Energiezone Podcast to share his thoughts on German power and GOO markets.
• Being the largest power market in the EU with 515 TWh of consumption, decarbonizing Germany’s power grid plays a pivotal role in the decarbonization of European power grids.
• Germany has a large transparency problem: many market participants are unaware that about 80% of green energy they buy comes from outside the country due to the current guarantee of origin system set up.
• It’s crucial to educate the market, and increase transparency. Geographical and temporal matching are key to increase trust in the certificates system.