North Macedonia’s National Electricity Market Operator MEMO has issued the country’s first guarantees of origin (GOs), certificates verifying that electricity is generated from renewable energy sources. The guarantees were awarded to state power utility Elektrani na Severna Makedonija (ESM) for electricity produced from hydropower. With this step, North Macedonia joins virtually all other countries in the region, which already have GO schemes in place.

The issuance of the first guarantees of origin represents a step forward in the implementation of the green transition in North Macedonia, in line with European standards and sustainable energy development goals, said Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Božinovska, who handed over the GOs to ESM General Director Lazo Uzunčev.

Božinovska underlined that the GOs would help create a transparent and sustainable energy market in the country.

Earlier this year, MEMO adopted the rules for administering guarantees of origin for electricity in line with the Law on Energy, the guarantees of origin decree, and the standards of the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), a Brussels-based organization that standardizes GOs. The operator is responsible for managing the GO registry and issuing and revoking GOs.

MEMO’s GO rules will ensure full acceptance in the European market

The rules are also harmonized with the principles of the European Energy Certificate System (EECS) and will ensure full acceptance in the European market, MEMO said in a press release.

More companies are joining the GO registry

Zoran Gjorgjievski, MEMO’s CEO, said that a large number of other companies are already in the process of joining the GO registry. “As the responsible operator, we are actively working on issuing, recording, and recognizing them,” he stressed.

The management of ESM emphasized that the company is continuing its efforts to increase electricity production from renewable sources, including the construction of new wind farms and photovoltaic power plants, for which it also plans to obtain GOs.