Sustainability Department
TÜV NORD offers energy suppliers independent testing and certification of green electricity tariffs. Green electricity certification confirms compliance with defined testing criteria for green electricity tariffs as part of an independent audit process. The certification is based on the criteria of the TÜV Association and TÜV NORD’s certification conditions for green electricity.
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Energy suppliers should be able to provide end consumers with transparent and credible proof of the origin of their electricity. With TÜV NORD’s independent green electricity certification, you can demonstrate transparency for your customers, strengthen confidence in your tariffs, and verify compliance with relevant requirements based on recognised and objective assessment criteria.
Proofs of origin demonstrate that electricity has been generated from renewable energy sources. Green electricity certification complements this proof through an independent audit of the allocation of proofs of origin to the quantities of electricity supplied, as well as compliance with defined requirements applicable to the respective green electricity tariff.
TÜV NORD certifies in accordance with the audit criteria of the TÜV Association. In addition, TÜV NORD has developed a Premium Criteria Catalogue. This catalogue supplements the TÜV Association’s criteria with additional requirements. The applicable assessment criteria and certification conditions are available in our download center.
The certification is based on documented assessment procedures and an annual review of the green electricity balance for each tariff. As part of this process the electricity volumes supplied to end customers are compared with the corresponding proofs of origin.
The audit places particular emphasis on the following points:
Certification takes place regularly as part of an independent audit process. The certification criteria are available in our download center.
Green electricity certification is intended for energy suppliers and providers of green electricity tariffs who wish to offer their customers independent and transparent proof of the origin of the renewable electricity they supply.
The benefits of certification by TÜV NORD include:
No, green electricity certification is voluntary and not required by law, but it does offer additional transparency and credibility.
Proofs of origin certify that electricity comes from renewable energy sources and form an important basis for green electricity certification. The use of proofs of origin in electricity labelling is mandatory. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Environment Agency’s Register of proof of origin.
In principle, any energy supplier offering green electricity can apply for certification.
The green electricity certificate is usually valid for one year and must be renewed during this period following an audit by the energy supplier.
The duration of the certification process depends on the scope and completeness of the documentation, but usually takes just a few weeks.
Among other things, the following are required: evidence of the quantities of green electricity supplied to end consumers, proof of the origin of the electricity (certificates of origin), supply contracts, volume balances and marketing materials.
Yes, once certification has been successfully completed, the TÜV NORD green electricity certificate may be used for marketing purposes. However, the certification mark must not be used to issue your own certificates or documents. If in doubt, please consult us. You can send us a contact enquiry for this purpose.
Proofs of origin confirm the generation of green electricity and are required by law as part of electricity labelling. They are an important part of green electricity certification. The certification process also involves assessing further quality criteria.
Yes, electricity from various European countries can be certified in Germany, provided that the guarantees of origin are recognised in the German Register of proofs of origin.
When using proofs of origin, the origin of the electricity must be verified via the relevant national proofs of origin register. In Germany, this is the proofs of origin register maintained by the Federal Environment Agency. In countries where no such register is maintained, appropriate evidence must be provided for each relevant installation by an independent assessor (e.g. a chartered accountant, environmental assessor, independent certification body, etc.).
TÜV NORD CERT is an internationally recognised and reliable partner for testing and certification services. Our experts and auditors possess in-depth knowledge and are all permanently employed by TÜV NORD. This ensures independence, neutrality and continuity in the support we provide to our client base. The benefit for you is clear: our auditors guide and support the development of your business and provide you with objective feedback.