Demonstrate Your Commitment to a Sustainable Future With Snowy Hydro’s Internationally Recognised and Economical Renewable Energy Certificates, I-RECs.

I-RECs: Traceable, Auditable Renewable Energy Certificates

Snowy Energy offers International Renewable Electricity Certificates (I-RECs), which are issued from Snowy Hydro’s hydroelectric generation. Snowy Hydro I-RECs offer a transparent and auditable mechanism for large business customers to:

 

  • Reduce your carbon footprint: Each I-REC represents 1 MWh of renewable electricity generated from the Snowy Scheme, allowing you to match your consumption outside the Renewable Energy Target scheme with verifiable renewable energy.

 

  • Enhance your sustainability reporting: I-RECs are recognised by major international frameworks like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), ensuring your sustainability efforts are credible and auditable. In Australia, such frameworks may be used for voluntary reporting purposes, depending on your organisational requirements.*

 

  • Support Australian renewable energy: By choosing Snowy Hydro’s I-RECs, you contribute to the ongoing operation of Snowy Hydro’s essential hydroelectric assets, a cornerstone of Australia’s renewable energy landscape.

 

  • Achieve cost-effective sustainability: I-RECs provide an economical solution to enable you to meet your sustainability targets.

More Information on Snowy Hydro’s I-RECs

Watch the video below, to see how Snowy Hydro’s I-RECs operate in Australia.

International Frameworks That Recognise I-RECs:

Greenhouse Gas Protocol

For more information, go to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s website.

 

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

For more information, go to CDP’s website.

 

 

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

For more information, go to the SBTi’s website.

 

 

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

For more information, go to GRI’s website.

 

 

International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

For more information, go to ISSB’s website.

  •  image

Why Snowy Hydro’s Hydro Generation Matters

Hydro power is crucial for Australia’s renewable energy future. Snowy Hydro (one of Australia’s leading hydro generators) owns and operates on-demand, reliable hydro power stations that provide essential grid stability and long-duration energy storage, complementing and supporting the growth of other renewable sources such as intermittent solar and wind power. 

By choosing Snowy Hydro’s I-RECs provided by Snowy Energy, you’re supporting a critical renewable energy source that will benefit Australia for decades to come.

  •  image

I-REC Information Pack

See here our brief I-REC explainer. We’ve put together a brief two-page document, explaining I-RECs.

I-REC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I-RECs are international renewable electricity certificates (I-RECs or I-REC(E)s) administered by the I-TRACK Foundation. Each I-REC represents 1 MWh of hydroelectric generation from the Snowy Scheme.

I-RECs address the “below baseline” generation from renewable assets built before 1997, which are ineligible to issue Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) under the Renewable Energy Target scheme. I-RECs can offer a cost-effective solution for customers to match their energy consumption to certified renewable energy generation.

I-RECs are recognised by major reporting frameworks (such as GHGP, and CDP) and managed by the robust I-TRACK system and Evident registry. While I-RECs are recognised by a number of international frameworks, they are not currently recognised by the Renewable Energy Target scheme, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme for mandatory reporting purposes in Australia and are not part of the GreenPower accreditation framework. Organisations should obtain their own advice in relation to their emissions and sustainability compliance and reporting requirements.

I-RECs use CER documentation to ensure no double-counting with LGCs, focusing solely on “below baseline” generation that is ineligible for LGCs.

I-RECs are redeemed by Snowy Energy in the I-REC Registry on behalf of the customer, with a redemption statement provided to the customer. Once redeemed, they are no longer usable to ensure the integrity of certificate counting.

Snowy Hydro’s hydro generation provides essential long-duration storage and grid stability, supporting the integration of intermittent renewables and contributing to Australia’s renewable transition.

Additional I-REC FAQs Document

NetZeroMatch: Connect to Snowy Hydro's Renewable Energy**

For large business customers seeking a connection to hydro renewable energy, Snowy Energy offers NetZeroMatch. This innovative product directly matches your business’s electricity consumption to certified hydroelectric generation from specific Snowy Hydro power stations.

  • Matched to Specific Snowy Hydro Assets: Unlike other renewable energy offerings, NetZeroMatch matches your energy consumption outside the RET scheme with an equivalent amount of renewable generation from one or more designated Snowy Hydro power stations through I-RECs, ensuring clear certification and traceability.
  • Promote Your Connection to Iconic Renewable Sources: NetZeroMatch enables your business to proudly highlight its association with specific, well-established Snowy Hydro renewable energy generators.
  • Cost-Effective Renewable Energy Solution: By leveraging Snowy Hydro’s existing renewable infrastructure, NetZeroMatch offers a competitive and cost-effective pathway to secure certified renewable energy outside the RET scheme.
  • Verifiable and Auditable: By using I-RECs, your energy consumption outside the RET scheme is matched to renewable generation from one or more designated Snowy Hydro power stations in a transparent, verifiable, and auditable manner, to meet the increasing demands for credible sustainability reporting.
  • Supports Australia’s Energy Transition: By choosing NetZeroMatch, you are indirectly supporting the continued operation of Snowy Hydro’s hydroelectric assets, which play a vital role in Australia’s transition to a cleaner energy future.
  • Renewable Power: Hydroelectric generation from Snowy Hydro’s power stations are reliable on-demand renewable energy, contributing to grid stability and reducing your carbon footprint.
  • Long-Term Sustainability: Align your business with a renewable energy solution backed by Snowy Hydro’s enduring infrastructure.

* Please note that I-RECs are not part of, or recognised by the Renewable Energy Target scheme, the GreenPower accreditation or the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme for mandatory reporting purposes in Australia. Organisations should obtain their own advice in relation to their emissions and sustainability compliance and reporting requirements.

** Under NetZeroMatch, a customer’s energy consumption is matched with Large-scale Generation Certificates up to the ‘renewable power percentage’ under the Renewable Energy Target scheme (17.91% in 2025), with the remaining consumption matched with I-RECs issued from one or more Snowy Hydro hydro generators.

Ready to get started?

Let’s work together to build a sustainable future. Contact our team today