Albania, Bulgaria join European platform for guarantees of origin AIB

Albania and Bulgaria have become the new members of the Association of Issuing Bodies. The organization brings together European institutions responsible for guarantees of origin (GOs) such as transmission system operators, regulators and market operators.

AIB said on LinkedIn that, at its general meeting, memberships were validated for Bulgaria’s Sustainable Energy Development Agency (SEDA) and Albania’s Energy Regulatory Authority (ERE).

The association added that its board previously gave the green light. SEDA is the body for electricity guarantees of origin while ERE is the Albanian regulatory agency and issuing body for gas and electricity.

Both SEDA and ERE are now preparing for scheme membership and for hub connection

Both are now preparing for scheme membership and hub connection, which is expected to take at least six more months, AIB said.

In the Western Balkans region, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (the member is Operator for Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cogeneration – Operator za OIEiEK from Federation of BiH, one of the two entities in BiH), Montenegro, and Serbia are members of AIB.

According to the organization’s website, it has 43 members, however not all are members of the EECS Electricity Scheme Group. For example, Albania, BiH, and Montenegro are not, but Croatia is.

EECS membership means they can issue EECS GOs and transfer them over the AIB Hub. It is an interregistry communications center for the exchange of guarantees of origin.

Roadmap for contracting parties of the Energy Community

Of note, because EU regulations don’t allow the recognition of guarantees of origin from non-EU countries, a roadmap is being finalized to allow guarantees of origin from the contracting parties of the Energy Community to be recognized in the European Union.

The roadmap sets a list of criteria the parties including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have to meet.

Radeshi: Added value to the green electricity production in Albania

After the decision, Elton Radeshi, General Secretary of ERE, presented the measures to connect to the AIB’s hub.

The participation in AIB and the European system of guarantees of origin will give added value to the production of electricity from renewable energy sources in Albania, as one of the countries with the highest share of green electricity production in its power mix, he said.