Solmar Insights
Minnesota-based CleanCounts, the largest renewable energy credit (REC) registry in North America with over 40% market share, will launch advanced tracking features for solar RECs in 2026. The upgrades target the growing voluntary REC market by offering hourly tracking, agrisolar details, and certification for tribally-sited projects.
Key figures
Over 40% of RECs tracked by CleanCounts
Hourly tracking and agrisolar data added
Commercial rollout planned by end of 2026
Platform upgrades for changing REC market
Historically, most REC trading was driven by government mandates, but a shift toward voluntary corporate transactions is reshaping renewable procurement. CleanCounts CEO Benjamin Gerber stated that as policy mandates recede, buyers are seeking more specific attributes tied to local benefits and operational realities. Corporate procurement teams want RECs to signal not just clean power, but tangible environmental and social outcomes attached to generation.
In response, CleanCounts initiated a revamp of its registry platform, layering in enhanced attribute data that tracks how, where, and when energy is produced. These additions are designed to reflect the evolving requirements of utilities, developers, and corporate buyers as they focus on impactful sustainability sourcing strategies beyond generic megawatt accounting.
Key enhancements: hourly, agrisolar, and tribal
The updated CleanCounts platform will offer four major new certificate types. The first addition is granular hourly matching for developers, asset owners, and sophisticated buyers, enabling customers to align energy consumption with clean generation every hour, essential for use cases such as 24/7 carbon-free matching and real-time corporate decarbonization reporting.
Second, agrisolar and pollinator-friendly designations will be added for projects meeting the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Habitat Friendly Solar standard. This enables buyers to link REC purchases to habitat restoration and biodiversity initiatives, providing additional environmental benefits recognized in company ESG reporting and utility clean energy programs.
Third, integration with Seneca Environmental and other tribal entities will allow CleanCounts to certify RECs tied to tribally sited renewable projects. These RECs will include direct verification that generation occurs on federally recognized tribal lands, addressing growing demand for RECs that support Native American economic development and local energy sovereignty.
Finally, CleanCounts will support low-impact hydropower certifications, providing data on fish migration, river ecosystem performance, and community benefit, based on the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s requirements. This extension further diversifies the environmental claims attached to RECs for hydropower buyers.
Market transition: from mandates to voluntary buyers
With most traditional renewable mandates winding down, the voluntary REC segment is poised for sustained growth. Corporate buyers are increasingly setting aggressive clean energy and ESG targets that outpace regulatory requirements, driving demand for advanced REC tracking.
Gerber emphasized that in the post-mandate market, RECs need to demonstrate value beyond aggregate generation by documenting co-benefits like habitat restoration or tribal engagement. This shift also places pressure on developers to invest in technologies and partnerships enabling more granular, certified tracking, as attribute-rich RECs command premiums in voluntary markets.
As granular tracking and locational detail become table stakes for institutional procurement, registries like CleanCounts are positioning themselves to capture the demand from multinational buyers and US utilities seeking bespoke renewable sourcing solutions.
Timeline, testing, and certification process
The new capabilities have entered beta testing with selected CleanCounts users, including developers, tribal partners, and corporate procurement teams. CleanCounts aims for a full commercial rollout by the end of 2026, aligning with budget planning cycles for utility and enterprise clean energy buyers.
Certification for tribally sited projects and agrisolar initiatives will be managed in collaboration with third-party organizations and in direct communication with project operators. Each enhanced REC type will be verified through independent production data or certification documentation, providing compliance assurance for purchasing entities and investors.
The introduction of these features is anticipated to influence REC pricing, procurement transparency, and project siting decisions as institutional buyers increasingly prioritize high-attribute clean energy contracts over generic credits.
What this means for buyers
Solar RECs with hourly, agrisolar, and tribal site certification will become available across North America. CleanCounts will launch these enhanced tracking features commercially by year-end 2026. Buyers should update procurement strategies now to prioritize projects and partners able to deliver these high-value, attribute-rich RECs in the contracting cycle.
Reporting via the original publisher
