Itaipu Binacional launches international renewable energy certification (I-REC) this Tuesday afternoon (18th) at COP30
Itaipu Binacional’s entry into the REC market (international renewable energy certificates) will position Brazil as the world’s largest issuer of these certificates, surpassing China. The company announced its debut in this market on Tuesday afternoon (18th) at its booth in the Green Zone of COP30, in Belém, with the launch of the Itaipu International Renewable Energy Certificate: I-REC.
According to data from the Power Trading Chamber (CCEE), 73 million certificates have been sold so far in 2025. Next year, this number is expected to jump to around 90 million, driven mainly by the hydroelectric plant’s participation.
“More than 50 years after the signing of the Itaipu Treaty, with the advent of renewable energy certification, Itaipu Binacional will gain a new source of revenue. Until now, we only sold power. And soon, we will have additional revenue from floating photovoltaic energy generation on the reservoir,” said Itaipu’s Financial Director, André Pepitone da Nóbrega, during the launch ceremony.
According to Pepitone, the sale of I-RECs will not account for a significant share of Itaipu’s revenue when compared to its income from energy generation. However, the company’s entry into this market reaffirms the Binational’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices and supporting the energy transition.
The certificates attest to the use of renewable energy in business operations. I-RECs are of particular interest to Brazilian companies aligned with ESG practices and that compile greenhouse gas emissions inventories under the GHG Protocol. By acquiring them, companies can access international funds or increase competitiveness by demonstrating a reduced carbon footprint through the use of clean energy.
“We need to put labels and tags so the world can understand how clean, renewable, competitive, and socially and economically beneficial our energy is. So congratulations to Itaipu for this initiative,” said ABEEólica’s CEO, Elbia Gannoum, who attended the launch. “We must remember that COP30 is the COP of implementation, joint effort, and engagement. And this type of action will promote much greater market engagement.”
The CCEE, which oversees real-time monitoring of energy generation and consumption in Brazil, will play a central role in the process. The organization is launching the renewable energy certification platform, which ensures traceability and accuracy of information, granting the “CCEE Origin” seal to each certificate issued.
“This mechanism ensures that generators and consumers can verify the use of energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, and hydro,” explained the Chairman of CCEE’s Board of Directors, Alexandre Ramos.
“The certificate is like the birth certificate of renewable energy, and its launch is a historic milestone for Itaipu,” said Itaipu’s Legal Director, Luiz Fernando Delazari, highlighting that the project was supported by a legal opinion from attorney Maria João Rolim, who emphasized the Binational’s role in providing solutions for the energy transition
