Renewable Energy Certificate Strategy Independent REGO and REC Advisory for Commercial Asset Owners
Accreditations & Standards
Arc Renewables is RICS-accredited, MCS Certified, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and CHAS Advanced accredited providing the professional standards framework that institutional clients, property funds, and commercial operators require from an independent energy advisor.
ISO 9001 Certified
Quality Management System certification. Signals process rigour and consistent delivery standards.
ISO 14001 Certified
Environmental Management System certification. Relevant for sustainability-conscious clients.
RICS Accredited
Professional standards aligned with commercial property sector. The single most important trust signal for property investors, asset managers, and REITs.
MCS Certified
Microgeneration Certification Scheme. Relevant for commercial solar installations. Signals technical compliance.
NAPIT
Compliance certification for electrical and renewable energy work.
CHAS Advanced
Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme Advanced level. Signals H&S compliance for construction-related work.
A Renewable Energy Certificate is not the same as renewable energy. A REGO confirms that one MWh of renewable electricity was generated and exported somewhere on the UK grid it does not, on its own, mean that the buyer of the REGO has caused additional renewable generation to exist. The certificate strategy you adopt directly determines what you can claim under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s market-based method, what your auditors will accept, and whether your procurement will withstand SBTi scrutiny.
Most certificate advice that commercial organisations receive is sold by the party that earns from the transaction utility suppliers bundling REGOs into supply contracts, brokers selling unbundled certificates by volume, or PPA developers pricing a certificate stream into a long-term supply agreement. Arc Renewables earns nothing from the certificates our clients procure. We advise on what to buy, on what terms, and from whom and the procurement runs through the client, not through Arc.
Arc’s Renewable Energy Certificate Strategy service sits alongside our Net Zero Strategy and PPA Advisory lines. It is the function that turns a procurement decision into a defensible, auditable Scope 2 reporting position designed around the buyer’s reporting framework, target ambition, and budget rather than a seller’s margin.
What Arc does?
Certificate strategy design
An independent assessment of which combination of unbundled REGOs, utility-bundled green tariffs, PPA-matched certificates, or international RECs is appropriate for your reporting framework, target ambition, and budget. Arc starts from your obligations (SECR, TCFD, SBTi, customer disclosure requests) and works backwards to the certificate position you actually need.
Certificate quality assessment
Arc evaluates certificates against the criteria that matter to auditors and validation bodies vintage (year of generation), source technology (solar, wind, hydro, biomass), geographic origin, and additionality. Not all REGOs are equivalent; some are credible inputs to a Net Zero claim and some are not. Arc tells you which is which.
Procurement and counterparty selection
Arc structures the procurement process direct from a generator, through a broker, bundled with a utility supply contract, or matched to a PPA and runs counterparty selection on your behalf. Arc has no commercial relationship with any REGO trader or certificate broker, which is the structural basis on which our procurement advice is independent.
Scope 2 market-based reporting alignment
Arc advises on the interaction between your certificate procurement and Scope 2 reporting under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The certificate strategy you adopt determines whether your Scope 2 emissions reduction can be reported under the market-based method, what disclosures you owe under the dual reporting requirement, and what your auditors will need to see.
Cross-border certificate strategy
For organisations with international operations, certificate markets fragment quickly REGOs in the UK, GoOs across the EU, RECs in North America, I-RECs in emerging markets, with different fungibility, quality standards, and reporting acceptability. Arc advises on cross-border certificate strategy where global Scope 2 reporting is required.
Key distinction
The certificate market is opaque by design. Prices vary by an order of magnitude between vintages and technologies; fungibility between REGOs, GoOs, and RECs depends on the reporting framework you are submitting under; and the quality bar that auditors and SBTi validation panels apply is rising every year. A procurement decision made today on the basis of last year’s defaults will not necessarily survive next year’s assurance review. Arc’s certificate advisory is calibrated to where the framework is moving not to where it was.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a REGO, a REC, and a Guarantee of Origin?
REGO (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) is the UK certificate scheme administered by Ofgem. Guarantee of Origin (GoO) is the equivalent scheme across the EU. REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) is the broader generic term, used internationally and particularly in North American markets. For UK-only operations, REGO is the relevant instrument; for organisations with European or international supply, the picture is more complex and Arc advises on cross-border certificate strategy.
Does buying REGOs make my organisation Net Zero?
No. Procuring REGOs allows your organisation to report Scope 2 emissions on a market-based basis which is a legitimate and audited approach under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol but it is not a substitute for a credible decarbonisation pathway. SBTi and the Corporate Net-Zero Standard require absolute emissions reductions from the value chain, not certificate-only offsetting. Arc’s starting position is always that on-site generation and contracted off-site supply (PPA) come before unbundled certificates in the strategy hierarchy.
Does Arc trade REGOs or sell certificates?
No. Arc does not trade, broker, or sell REGOs, RECs, GoOs, or carbon credits. Arc advises clients on which certificates to procure, on what terms, and from which counterparty and runs the procurement on the client’s behalf. Arc earns nothing from the certificate purchase. This is the structural basis of Arc’s independence on certificate strategy.
Are utility-bundled REGOs as credible as unbundled or PPA-matched certificates?
It depends on the framework you are reporting against and the auditor or validation body involved. Unbundled REGOs sold separately from physical electricity are accepted under the GHG Protocol market-based method but are increasingly questioned by SBTi and by procurement-governed buyers seeking demonstrable additionality. PPA-matched certificates, which travel with physical (or contracted) electricity from a specific generator, sit higher on the credibility hierarchy. Arc advises on where each type is appropriate.
How does certificate strategy connect with Arc’s other services?
Certificate Strategy sits within the broader Net Zero strategy and is closely linked to PPA Advisory. The PPA you sign determines whether the certificate stream is bundled with the contract or procured separately; the Net Zero strategy determines how much of your residual exposure needs covering with certificates rather than direct procurement. Arc co-designs these decisions rather than treating them as separate workstreams.
Get a quote
Contact us today to receive a detailed quote tailored to your net zero requirements.
Our Approach
Every development faces similar energy-related challenges. To help our clients harness renewable energy’s potential, we adopt a distinctive approach:
Custom Solutions for Clients:
Driven by our core values, we prioritise your needs at every stage. By simplifying complex concepts and collaborating closely with you, we deliver solutions tailored to your specific goals.
Improve your sustainability
Reduce your energy costs
How we can help
The ARC Renewables Energy Team brings extensive experience and market insight to help land and property owners secure optimal commercial terms for solar PV installations. Whether investing in rooftop solar to offset energy costs or negotiating complex options for large-scale solar farms, we excel at delivering tailored advice.
We focus on supporting those involved in green energy projects or enhancing their sustainability efforts. If you are a land or property owner who:
- Has received inquiries from developers or energy firms
- Is contemplating diversifying your agricultural, estate, or business operations
- Seeks to reduce energy costs
- Is exploring ways to offset emissions to meet net-zero objectives
- Desires guidance from seasoned sustainability strategists
Then we are here to help. Our team specialises in facilitating green energy projects and enhancing sustainability. We understand the potential for clean energy generation to yield significant financial benefits, bolster your environmental reputation, and positively impact communities.
Recognising the complexity of choices and the long-term implications of agreements, we offer our expertise in navigating these decisions. We assist farmers, landowners, businesses, and investors in their green strategies by:
- Conducting feasibility audits and cost-benefit analyses to develop coherent strategies for green diversification.
- Identifying the most appropriate renewable energy generation systems.
- Researching and recommending suitable development and utility partners.
- Reviewing commercial proposals from developers or energy companies to ensure alignment with clients’ revenue and asset protection goals.
- Ensuring compliance with legal standards, such as the Landlord & Tenant Act (1954).
- Negotiating lease extensions and project repowering when necessary.
- Assessing the financial and physical impacts of decommissioning technology or sites at the end of their life.
Latest News
Commercial Solar & Renewable Energy Solutions for Businesses
Energy is getting more expensive, sustainability targets are becoming more significant, and customers and investors are pressuring companies to operate responsibly. Today, far-sighted companies are recognizing that commercial solar and renewables are…
PPA Financing Models: Commercial Power Purchase Agreements in the UK
Multiple reasons for this changing landscape include: decarbonisation targets, electricity price volatility (spikes in electricity prices), and corporate net zero commitments. Commercial Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) have become important components…
Solar Power Maintenance Costs in the UK
Solar Power Maintenance Costs in the UK: A Complete Guide for Long-Term Value Solar power is at the very heart of the UK’s growing energy transition, and thousands of homes,…
How Does a Solar PPA Work
How Does a Solar PPA Work in the UK: A Simple Guide For Businesses in the UK The cost of electricity is unpredictable in the UK, and with greater pressure coming…
Top 20 Solar Farms in the UK
Top 20 Solar Farms in the UK: In the past ten years, the UK has changed significantly. The country is experiencing a boom in solar power throughout the UK. Solar…
Solar Lease vs. Buy: Which is Better?
Solar energy is one of the growing renewable power sources across the world, especially in the UK. This renewable power source is gaining popularity for its abilities such as reduced…
Can Businesses Get Grant Or Financial Support For Solar Panels?
Energy bills going up again? You’re not alone. All over the UK, small and large, all types of businesses are feeling the pressure of growing electricity costs, tighter margins, and…
Do Solar Panels Need Maintenance?
Thinking to go solar or already have solar panels installed on your roof but don’t know what it takes to keep them perfectly fine? You are not the only one…
How to Install Commercial Solar Panels
How to Install Commercial Solar Panels: A Step-by-Step Guide for UK Businesses: Rising energy prices and volatile electricity tariffs are pushing UK businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. As a result,…
How Much Could Solar Installation Save Your Business?
Every business owner get a monthly headache whenever they go through their electricity bills. Whether you run a small business, a big office, or a large manufacturing facility, the cost…
"As independent experts, we partner businesses, supporting them to find the best deal to maximise their energy savings and move closer towards Net Zero."
Andrew Gardner, Director
Trusted by industry-leading companies across the UK
Arc will review your current Net Zero strategy, your reporting obligations, and your existing procurement arrangements — and tell you honestly whether the pathway holds up under SBTi, TCFD, and SECR scrutiny.
Are your REGOs credible enough for your auditors and your SBTi panel? Get an independent answer.
Arc will review your current certificate procurement, your reporting framework, and your target trajectory and tell you honestly whether your Scope 2 market-based position holds up under audit and SBTi scrutiny.