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Duke Energy

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

A REC represents the environmental attributes of 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and others. You can purchase RECs to match some or all of your electricity usage, allowing you to find the best combination to help reach your sustainability goals. RECs can range in price based on resource, generation date and location. When you purchase RECs, you can feel good knowing that you are supporting renewable energy generation.

Tracking Renewable Energy: From Source to Certificate

Hover over the + symbols in the infographic below to see the two components of renewable energy generation: the kilowatts of electricity produced that are added to the main electric grid and the associated environmental attributes of that energy.

Benefits of Purchasing RECs

  • Your electricity usage was generated by a low- or zero emissions source

  • The carbon impact from your electricity use may have been reduced

  • The electricity produced is exclusively traceable from generation to one purchaser (you)

  • Viable solution when building or owning on-site generation equipment is not possible

A Key Tool in the Renewable Energy Market

RECs are an important way to attribute renewable generation to one exclusive purchaser. Watch the video below to learn more.

Additional Resources

Learn more to advance your journey to sustainability.