Association of Issuing Bodies
The Association of Issuing Bodies - the AIB [1] - promotes the use of a standardised system, based on harmonized environment, structures and procedures in order to ensure the reliable operation of international energy certificate systems. The standardized system is known as EECS - the European Energy Certificate System - and is set out in "The EECS Rules"[2] and its supporting documents.
Of the 28 countries of the European Union, 20 are now active members, along with Norway and Switzerland. Since 2001, more than two billion (2,023 million) 1MWh certificates have been issued, of which 1,664 million have already been used (cancelled) to guarantee to consumers the origin of the renewable energy they have purchased. In 2013, more than 312 million certificates were issued, and 252 million of these were cancelled.
The work of the AIB is of relevance to all electricity customers, as the Guarantee of Origin (the instrument created in the European Directive and standardised through EECS) is a cornerstone of providing reliable disclosure information on the origin of electricity supplied to consumers.