Renewable Energy Certificates Registry

The Renewable Energy Certificates Registry (REC-registry) is an internet-based registry system in Australia for renewable energy certificates (RECs). If an Australian organization installs a green energy installation (solar energy, wind energy, etc.), they can apply for RECs to offset consumption of fossil fuels.

The REC-registry was established by the Australian Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 (the act),{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/comlaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/0/8994EB68074BFB4CCA257590000D85C9?OpenDocument|title=Delayed Redirect|website=www.legislation.gov.au}} and is maintained by the Clean Energy Regulator.

The REC-registry:

• facilitates the creation, registration, transfer and surrender of large-scale generation certificates (LGCs){{Cite web|url=https://www.tradeingreen.com.au/lgcs.html#:~:text=Large+Scale+Generation+Certificates+(LGCs)+Accredited+renewable+energy,to+one+megawatt+hour+of+eligible+renewable+electricity.|title=Trading of Large Scale Generation Certificates LGC|website=www.tradeingreen.com.au}} and small-scale technology certificates (STCs)],{{Cite web|url=https://apricus.com.au/what-are-stcs-small-scale-technology-certificates/|title=What are Small Scale Technology Certificates-STCS | Apricus Australia|first=Author Apricus|last=Australia|date=April 9, 2014}}
• tracks the ownership and status of all certificates,
• provides access to the STC clearing house, and
• maintains various public registers as required by the act.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rec-registry.gov.au/rec-registry/app/home|title=REC Registry home|first=c=AU; o=Commonwealth of Australia; ou=Clean Energy|last=Register|website=www.rec-registry.gov.au}}

Prior to 1 January 2011, the primary mechanism in the renewable energy target (RET) was the renewable energy certificate (REC). From 1 January 2011 RECs were split into small-scale technology certificates (STCs) and large-scale generation certificates (LGCs). RECs are still used as a general term covering both STCs and LGCs.

All certificates must be created in the REC-registry{{Cite web|url=https://rec-registry.gov.au/rec-registry/app/home#:~:text=The+REC+Registry+is+an+online+system+that:,provides+access+to+the+STC+clearing+house,+and|title=REC Registry home|first=c=AU; o=Commonwealth of Australia; ou=Clean Energy|last=Register|website=rec-registry.gov.au}} before they can be bought, sold, traded or surrendered. Participants must hold an account and be registered as a REC-registry user to create, view or transfer certificates.