Web site of the month: Renewable energy tracking systems

The Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System and the Western Renewable Energy Information System are regional organizations that can help Western customers verify REC purchases. Both are members of the Environmental Tracking Network of North America, a national forum for industry stakeholders. (Artwork by M-RETS, WREGIS, ETNNA)

As more states adopt voluntary renewable portfolio standards (RPS), utilities need to be able to have confidence that the renewable energy certificates (RECs) they purchase count toward meeting their goals. Renewable energy tracking systems provide a way to collect meter readings from renewable plants, verify the output and issue the RECs into a generator's account.

Such systems are usually regional, and in Western's territory, there are two. Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS) tracks renewable generation located within the boundaries of Illinois, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Western Renewable Energy Information System (WREGIS) serves the region of 14 states, 2 Canadian provinces and Baja California covered by the Western Interconnection. Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming are part of WREGIS, as are the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia.

Both organizations are members of the Environmental Tracking Network of North America (ETNNA). Funded by the Department of Energy, ETNNA is a national organization that seeks to increase compatibility between systems. Members, including tracking systems, stakeholders and government agencies, come together to discuss common issues, identify best practices and design solutions to common problems.

Similar mission, services

M-RETS and WREGIS share a similar mission: to track renewable energy generation and verify compliance with mandatory or voluntary state and provincial RPSs and objectives. Both organizations issue certificates for each MW of renewable energy registered facilities generate. This information is entered into Web-based databases that members can use to research potential vendors. 

The databases offer a variety of functions to help utilities verify compliance and manage their portfolios. Capabilities include creating unique certificates, tracking serial numbers and certificates in company accounts, enabling transfers and transactions, tracking certificate retirement and creating a full audit trail. Utilities can use the databases to manage their individual REC portfolios within their accounts.

In addition to member services, both Web sites make reports available to the public. M-RETS consolidates its reports under "Documents and resources," where visitors will also find the organization’s statutes and operating procedures, helpful links and registration. WREGIS has separate pages for documents, links and member registration.

To help members get the most from their services, the tracking systems offer frequent trainings. The "Events" page on M-RETS lists trainings, webcasts and meetings and seminars. WREGIS has an Events page, along with separate pages for training and a calendar.  Non-members, as well as members, are able to download presentations from past events on the M-RETS "Webcast" page, and from "Past Events" on the WREGIS site. 

The national perspective

ETNNA’s site focuses largely on educating the power industry on the issues surrounding REC tracking and promoting discussion.  The Learn page offers an overview of renewable energy certificates, covering tracking systems, renewable energy, renewable energy certificates, carbon offsets and renewable portfolio standards. For those interested in more specific topics, the extensive library of publications and downloads includes best practices papers and background and meeting documents, most of which are available to the public.

Users who might wish to join can download the meeting notes to learn more about ETNNA’s activities.  Membership is divided into two categories: council members and affiliate members. The first comprises representatives of existing and emerging certificate issuing or tracking systems in North America, such as M-RETS and WREGIS, and North American emissions registries. Affiliate members are stakeholders—companies or individuals—with an interest in certificate issuing systems, tracking systems or emissions registries, and regulatory and governmental representatives.

Members are encouraged to participate in frequent meeting and teleconferences to discuss common issues and resolve common problems. The Events calendar lists currently-scheduled meetings, along with links to notes from past meetings.

ETNNA also maintains a renewable energy "Generator Registry" for North America to ensure that electric generation or conservation certificates are not double-counted. However, this database is not accessible from the Web site.

While ETNNA works to increase compatibility between systems, the organization recognizes that each regional tracking system has its own unique needs. As a forum where stakeholders across regions can meet and exchange ideas, ETNNA helps tracking systems implement changes required to meet new and emerging regional requirements as well as the existing ones. This forum could provide a framework for a national network should a Federal renewable portfolio standard be put into place.

Resources

Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System

Western Renewable Energy Information System

Environmental Tracking Network of North America

M-RETS member registration

WREGIS member registration

WREGIS training events

WREGIS calendar

Resources (cont.)

M-RETS webcast presentations

WREGIS event presentations

ETNNA "Learn" - REC overview

ETNNA publications and downloads

ETNNA membership

ETNNA events calendar

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