Guarantee of origin
A guarantee of origin is a European certificate attesting that a quantity of renewable electricity was produced and injected into the grid. A supplier selling green electricity must cancel a volume of guarantees matching its sales. It does not mean the electricity physically reaching your home came from that production.
What the mechanism shows and what it hides
The system is traceable and regulated: each renewable megawatt-hour produced generates a certificate, which is cancelled when it is sold to a final consumer. Nothing about it is fraudulent.
Guarantees trade separately from the electricity itself. A Belgian supplier can therefore buy certificates issued elsewhere in Europe. It is legal and transparent, and it explains why almost every supplier can advertise a fully green offer.
What actually differentiates suppliers is therefore not the label but the ownership of the generating assets and the provenance of the guarantees. The regional regulators publish information allowing that comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Does green electricity physically reach my home?
No, and no supplier can honestly promise it. The grid mixes all injections. The guarantee of origin attests that an equivalent renewable production took place, which supports the sector without changing the physical nature of your supply.
Does a green contract cost more in Belgium?
Not necessarily. Green offers have become the standard at most Belgian suppliers, with prices aligned on conventional contracts. The differences observed reflect commercial strategy more than the cost of the electricity itself.