Since launching AutoGreenCharge, an app aimed at reducing carbon emissions from electric vehicles (EVs), many early users and corporate partners have asked us to explain how it works — especially how it uses Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs). Today, we’ll break down what AutoGreenCharge does and how it helps EV drivers, fleet owners, and anyone interested in decarbonizing EV charging and the grid as a whole.

Understanding Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs)

First, let’s talk about electricity markets and EACs. These certificates are used to track and trade the environmental benefits of renewable energy. EACs represent the “green” qualities of renewable electricity, such as how it was produced (wind, solar, etc.), where it was generated, and when it was created. For every 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of renewable electricity, one EAC is issued. These certificates can be sold separately from the actual electricity, so people or businesses can support renewable energy without being directly connected to a renewable power plant.

​​When someone wants to claim they’ve used renewable electricity, they “retire” the certificate in a registry, ensuring that only one person or business can take credit for that specific green energy. Governments and companies worldwide have been using EACs for years to help make their energy use cleaner.

Different regions have their own versions of EACs:

• Europe uses Guarantees of Origin (GOs), which prove electricity came from renewable sources.
• North America uses Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), similar to GOs, but often certified by a trusted third party.
• Other countries, like Australia and Japan, have their own systems that work in a similar way.
• International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) are used in many emerging economies and track renewable energy across borders.

EACs can be bought and sold on various platforms, and once purchased, they can be retired to claim a decrease in emissions.

How AutoGreenCharge Works

AutoGreenCharge simplifies the process of matching EACs to EV charging sessions. It takes into account where and when you charge your car, how much electricity you use, and then automatically selects and purchases EACs to offset any non-renewable energy in that session. Since most EV charging sessions use less electricity than a full MWh (the standard size of an EAC), AutoGreenCharge splits the certificates into smaller pieces to match your charge. This process is verified by Energy Web’s Worker Node network, which ensures everything is tracked accurately.

AutoGreenCharge also has a new feature for enterprise: “Bring Your Own EAC.” This allows companies to use EACs they’ve already purchased. If they don’t want to handle it themselves, the app can take care of buying and matching the right certificates for them. For example, the first certificates purchased by Energy Web for the app were high-quality wind RECs from the U.S.

Addressing Common Questions

One AutoGreenCharge tester asked the following: “How do you know I am not charging my vehicle using a diesel generator?”

First, we should note that while it is possible to run a diesel generator to charge a vehicle, it’s a fairly rare occurrence as it doesn’t make economic sense. Charging an EV with a diesel generator is expensive, and buying EACs to greenwash it would be even more costly. However, we can consider this scenario as an example to demonstrate how AutoGreenCharge works. If the app doesn’t have any further information about the physical grid connection of the charging station in use, it will assume that none of the electricity used was renewable. So in this scenario, an EAC would be matched to the full charging session volume to make sure it’s covered by 100% renewables.

EACs give control to each individual and organization to contribute to the success of renewable facilities by attracting more investments into a greener grid which will replace emitting electricity generators over time. AutoGreenCharge makes every charge event supportive of renewable energy — at least somewhere in your EAC region.

Limitations of EACs Today

While EACs are great for individual action supporting renewables, they have some limitations. For example, they usually don’t specify the exact time of electricity generation — just the year. They also don’t always account for physical grid limitations, meaning you could buy an EAC from another region even if it doesn’t match the electricity connection where you’re located.

Still, EACs are currently the most widely used system for tracking renewable energy. Efforts are already underway to make EACs more detailed. AutoGreenCharge supports several types of emerging protocols, like Trusted Green Charging and DIVE, which provide a more accurate environmental impact for specific charging events.

We’re excited about the future of AutoGreenCharge and welcome feedback! If you’re interested in learning more or want to share ideas, install the app for Android and iOS now or reach out to us.