Retirement refers to the permanent removal of an EAC or other environmental commodity from circulation in a registry. This means it represents a single renewable energy claim, and cannot be subsequently transferred or resold. It is also known as cancellation or redemption depending on the region.
In most markets, yes. The three terms describe the same registry action but are used in different jurisdictions and standards. Retirement is more common in North American voluntary markets and under the I-REC standard. Cancellation is the term used across most European registries. Redemption appears in some European contexts.
Only the registry account holder where the EAC currently sits can retire the certificate. In practice, this is the final buyer of the EAC or a representative acting on behalf of an end consumer making a renewable energy claim.
Once a certificate is retired in the registry, a retirement statement is generated to confirm the certificate has been used for a renewable energy claim and cannot be reused. This statement typically records the beneficiary (the entity making the claim), the consumption period the EAC is being applied to, and in some markets the country and end-use purpose. This metadata is what makes the claim auditable.
No. The irreversibility is what guarantees a single MWh of renewable generation can only be claimed once, which is the foundation of the entire EAC market.
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Retirement (of a certificate)
