Carbon-Free Chronicles July 2025: The essential round up of news and reports relating to 24/7 clean energy

What we’re reading

Why ‘small-time thinking’ is the next big move for corporate green power

• Corporate climate leaders are shifting from annual renewable targets to hourly matching, aligning electricity use with clean generation in real time. As RE100’s Sam Kimmins puts it, “small-time thinking”, tracking energy hour by hour, is becoming the next frontier in credible corporate decarbonisation.
• With over 400 major brands in its membership, RE100 is now influencing energy policy globally, including in China, where recent reforms have aligned the country’s REC system with international standards. While hourly matching presents technical challenges, momentum is growing as companies demand greater impact and transparency from their clean energy sourcing strategies.
• Read the full article here.

GHG Protocol Scope 2 review updates: ISB approves recommendations on hourly matching

• The Independent Standards Board is the formal decision-making body responsible for approving updates to greenhouse gas accounting standards, ensuring they are robust, transparent, and aligned with the needs of global stakeholders across governments, businesses, and civil society. On Friday August 1st, it approved hourly and location matching for Scope 2 emissions reporting.
• These include hourly and geographic matching for market-based methods. These new requirements will be phased in over time, allows exceptions for small businesses, and allows for estimated hourly data to be used if needed.
• Consequential accounting or ‘avoided emissions’ calculations will not be considered as part of the Scope 2 revision process, but will be explored elsewhere alongside sectors outside of electricity.

China mandates renewable purchases and hints at hourly matching

• The Lantau Group published an analysis on the release of China’s New Green Power Consumption Quotas.
• There is a significant policy shift in China: businesses are now obligated to buy a minimum volume of renewable energy, enforced through RECs.
• Even more intriguing is the Chinese government’s early support for hourly matching, a signal that the world’s largest power system could be eyeing time-based CFE.

EnergyTag Factbook: APAC ready for granular matching

• EnergyTag’s new Factbook highlights how countries across Asia-Pacific are uniquely positioned to lead in 24/7 carbon-free electricity, thanks to advanced market structures and policy momentum.
• With many APAC grids already operating on 5–30 minute intervals, and smart meter rollouts accelerating, the region is technically ready for granular matching.
• The Factbook showcases case studies and progress across India, China, Australia, Japan, and more, building a strong case for faster, time-based clean energy adoption.

What we’re writing (and saying)

Granular Energy x Eneco UK

• We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Eneco UK to help deliver 24/7 carbon-free energy to large-scale users in the British market.
• This collaboration marks a significant step toward time-based procurement in the UK, enabling organisations to match their electricity use with clean generation on an hourly basis.
• It's another sign that real-time tracking is quickly moving from concept to commercial reality.

What are shaped EACs?

• As momentum grows for more granular energy tracking, a new class of energy certificates is emerging: shaped EACs.
• In this article, we break down what they are, how they work, and why they’re gaining traction among energy suppliers and buyers alike.
• Shaped EACs allow for better alignment between renewable generation profiles and consumption patterns, making them a key tool for scaling effective 24/7 procurement.

Ireland pilots hourly GOs with Grexel

• We’re proud to be involved in a landmark pilot in Ireland where, for the first time, hourly Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are being tested.
• Led by registry provider Grexel and supported by market participants including Granular Energy, this project is an exciting step toward modernising Europe's tracking systems.
• The pilot explores the technical and policy frameworks required to support hourly disclosure, and could provide a blueprint for other countries looking to follow suit. Read more here.

Denmark tests granular GOs with Energinet and REEL

• Granular Energy is proud to support a pioneering pilot in Denmark, where Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are issued on an hourly, weekly, and monthly basis for the first time.
• Led by Energinet and REEL, the project brings together leading Danish companies to test how granular tracking can enhance transparency and emissions reporting.
• The pilot paves the way for Denmark’s 2026 launch of commercial GGO products, offering a model for how registry systems and digital platforms can work hand in hand. Read more here.