Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in India explained
What a REC is (1 MWh), how CERC's REC Regulations 2022 and the 2026 amendment work, how RECs differ from carbon credits, I-RECs, green open access, green tariff and Scope 2.
Common mistakes and greenwashing risks
- Calling RECs "carbon credits" or "offsets".
- Claiming "100% renewable" while counting the same MWh that a green tariff, a PPA or another buyer already claims.
- Buying certificates from a different year or country than your consumption without saying so.
- Saying RECs prove you caused new renewable plants to be built. Without additionality, they do not.
Sources: CERC (Terms and Conditions for Renewable Energy Certificates for Renewable Energy Generation) Regulations, 2022; CERC: Notification on date of implementation of REC Regulations 2022; CERC REC (First Amendment) Regulations, 2026; CERC: Current Regulations index; PIB (Ministry of Power), 7 June 2022: Green Energy Open Access Rules; PIB (Ministry of Power), 19 July 2022: Green Energy Open Access Rules; PIB (Ministry of Power), 11 November 2022: Green Energy Open Access portal launched; GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance (2015); I-TRACK Foundation (I-REC Standard)
This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked by the GreenEye team against the sources shown in each section.
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