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.
What are I-RECs?
The I-REC is an international energy attribute certificate under the I-TRACK Standard, governed by the I-TRACK Foundation in the Netherlands. Its electricity code, I-REC(E), is used in more than 70 countries (I-TRACK Foundation, 2026). Multinational companies often buy I-RECs where no national system meets their needs.
In India, the CERC REC is the regulated national instrument. If you consider I-RECs for Indian electricity, check that the same MWh has not also been issued a CERC REC or sold under a green tariff, and that your reporting framework accepts it.
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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