TÜV SÜD's "Generation EE" standard has been approved by the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) as an independent criteria scheme (ICS). The certificate not only confirms that energy generation is based on renewable energies, but also labels additional qualities for eco-power.

Under the AIB accreditation, guarantees of origin (GoOs) with this label can now be transferred across national borders. "Our standard specifies particularly rigorous certification criteria", explains Klaus Nürnberger, Head of Energy Certification at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH in Munich. For example, recognition of energy output requires that the energy consumed by the generating plants is deducted from the total energy generated. In addition, operators of certified power generation plants must produce evidence of a corporate culture that promotes the expansion of renewable energies. "This special eco-power label must be preserved in trading with guarantees of origin", stresses Nürnberger. To achieve this, approval must be obtained from the Brussels-based AIB and national databases of guarantees of origin must be expanded to include the capability of processing information pertaining to these additional product characteristics.

Despite AIB accreditation, as yet guarantees of origin with additional product characteristics under the TÜV SÜD Generation EE standard can only be generated in Austria and Switzerland and transferred from there. The GoO databases in these countries have already been upgraded to include the capability of processing additional characteristics. Klaus Nürnberger says, "We are calling for other countries to join in modifying their GoO databases. This would enable competition in the green energy sector to be driven by quality-related product features instead of focusing on volume and price."

TÜV SÜD is among the first companies to have their standards accredited by the AIB. The internationally operating AIB is an association of independent bodies for the issue and cancellation of certificates for energy generated from renewable sources.