The usage period is the window during which an EAC can be cancelled to back a renewable energy claim. It is set by each registry's rules and is typically defined as a fixed period after the end of the production period, after which the certificate expires and can no longer be used.
Usage periods vary by registry. European GoOs follow a 12-month window under EECS rules. UK REGOs align with the UK compliance period (April to March), with certificates expiring at the end of the relevant compliance year. US RECs vary by tracking system and state RPS rule, with some allowing older vintages and others not. I-REC certificates are typically usable for around 14 months after the end of the production period, with variations by issuer country.
The production period is when the electricity was generated. The usage period is the window of time during which the resulting certificate can be cancelled to back a claim. The usage period typically starts when the certificate is issued and ends at the registry's defined expiration point, a fixed number of months after the end of the production period.
At the end of the usage period, if the certificate is not cancelled then it expires. It remains in the registry as a historical record but can no longer be cancelled, transferred, or used to back a claim.
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