Decoding Olympic Clean Energy: The Debate Over Guarantee of Origin Certificates

Decoding Olympic Clean Energy: The Debate Over Guarantee of Origin Certificates

The Olympic Games, a global spectacle of athletic prowess, also represent an immense logistical challenge with a significant environmental footprint. As the world grapples with climate change, the pressure on major events like the Olympics to demonstrate genuine sustainability efforts has intensified. For the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, organisers have made a bold pledge: virtually all electricity powering the venues and crucial snow-making operations will be clean. This ambitious commitment, championed by Italy’s largest electricity company, Enel, hinges on a crucial, yet debated, mechanism: Guarantee of Origin (GO) certificates. The focus on energy use is strategic, as it has historically been one of the primary drivers of planet-warming emissions at major international events. By tackling this head-on, Milan Cortina 2026 aims not only to minimise its own impact but also to inspire a broader shift towards cleaner energy solutions for future host cities and large-scale events. But what exactly does this "100% green" electricity promise entail, and are GO certificates truly the silver bullet for Olympic sustainability?

Milan Cortina 2026's Bold Promise: A Green Games Vision

The Milan Cortina 2026 organising committee has articulated a clear vision: its Games-time electrical energy will be 100% green, fed by certified renewable sources. This commitment extends beyond mere rhetoric, aiming to demonstrate that cleaner energy solutions are increasingly viable for events of this scale, setting a precedent for ongoing progress across major events worldwide. The committee's sustainability report from September highlights that in rare cases where temporary power generation is unavoidable, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) will be substituted for traditional, carbon-intensive diesel fuels, further underscoring their commitment to reducing fossil fuel reliance. Enel, as the official energy partner, is central to this pledge. They are slated to supply a staggering 85 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of power for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Their method of ensuring this "green" supply is through the purchase of Guarantee of Origin (GO) certificates on the market from renewable energy plants. This mechanism, they argue, translates the Games' values of sustainability and inclusion into concrete terms, blending technological innovation with environmental protection. For a deeper dive into how this commitment shapes the Games, you can explore Milan Cortina 2026: How the Winter Olympics Pledged 100% Green Power.

Understanding Guarantee of Origin (GO) Certificates

At the heart of Milan Cortina's clean energy strategy are Guarantee of Origin (GO) certificates. This European mechanism, established in 2001, serves as a crucial tool in the renewable energy market. Essentially, each GO certificate verifies that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity has been produced using a certified renewable source, such as solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal. Here’s how they work: * **Certification:** Renewable energy producers generate electricity and, simultaneously, GO certificates for the corresponding amount of green power. * **Trading:** These certificates are then traded on the power market, either directly between companies or through brokers. They represent the "green attribute" of the electricity, allowing it to be separated from the physical flow of electrons. * **Verification and Cancellation:** Once a company, like Enel, purchases and "uses" these certificates to meet its green energy targets, they are officially cancelled. This cancellation prevents the same MWh of renewable energy from being claimed twice, maintaining the integrity of the system. The intended purpose of GO certificates is to support the development of renewable sources by creating an additional revenue stream for green energy producers, thereby incentivising investment in new renewable capacity. By demonstrating demand for certified green energy, companies help to bolster the financial viability of renewable projects across the continent.

The Core Debate: Are GO Certificates Truly "Clean" for the Olympics?

While many proponents view GO certificates as vital for promoting decarbonisation and supporting the transition to a sustainable energy future, the system also has its detractors, particularly when applied to events like the Olympics. The debate centres on whether purchasing GO certificates genuinely makes an event "cleaner" or simply allows for a form of greenwashing.

The Argument for GO Certificates: Supporting Renewable Growth

* **Market Mechanism:** Proponents argue that GOs are an essential market-based mechanism to encourage investment in renewable energy generation. By creating demand for certified green power, they provide financial support to producers, helping new projects get off the ground and existing ones to expand. * **Flexibility and Reach:** For events like the Olympics, which require massive, reliable energy supplies across diverse locations, GOs offer a practical way to source certified renewable energy even if direct, on-site renewable generation isn't feasible for 100% of demand. * **Transparency:** The cancellation system ensures that the environmental attribute of a specific MWh of renewable energy is only claimed once, providing a level of transparency and accountability.

The Critique: An "Accounting Trick" or Genuine Impact?

Matteo Villa, who leads the data lab at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, offers a critical perspective, stating that while purchasing GO certificates is a "great way to promote your event," it doesn't necessarily make the host country itself cleaner or more renewable *at the moment of consumption*. * **The Grid Remains the Same:** Critics highlight that electricity from the grid is a homogeneous mix of all available sources – renewable, fossil, nuclear – within a region. When Enel buys GO certificates, it means they are financially supporting renewable energy production *somewhere* in the European grid. However, the actual electrons flowing into the Olympic venues come from the broader Italian national grid mix, which for Enel in 2025 was about 75% carbon-free (50% hydropower, 17% geothermal, and less than 10% from wind, solar, and other renewables), with the remainder largely from gas-fired power plants. Many of Italy’s hydropower plants, a significant source of its carbon-free energy, are indeed in northern Italy, close to the Winter Games locations. * **Additionality Question:** The core of the critique lies in the concept of "additionality." Does the purchase of GO certificates lead to *new* renewable energy capacity being added to the grid that wouldn't have existed otherwise? If the certificates are purchased from already operational renewable plants, critics argue it's merely a reallocation of existing green attributes, not a direct increase in the overall renewable energy supply at the point of consumption. The Games, Villa suggests, can only be as clean or sustainable as the whole of Italy's energy infrastructure. In essence, the debate boils down to whether a financial contribution to the broader renewable energy market, via certificates, is equivalent to directly powering an event with newly installed or geographically proximate renewable sources. While GOs undeniably support the growth of renewables in a macro sense, their ability to "green" the immediate consumption at a specific event in a directly measurable way remains a point of contention.

Beyond Certificates: A Holistic Approach to Olympic Sustainability

While the debate around Guarantee of Origin certificates is significant, it's crucial to remember that olympics clean energy goes beyond just electricity sourcing. A truly sustainable Games requires a holistic approach that integrates various environmental considerations. Here are practical tips and insights for future Olympic hosts and major event organisers looking to enhance their sustainability efforts: * **Prioritise On-Site Renewables:** Whenever feasible, investing in and installing on-site renewable energy generation (solar panels on venue roofs, small wind turbines) provides the most direct and tangible link to green power. This demonstrates a clear commitment that goes beyond market mechanisms. * **Energy Efficiency is Paramount:** The cleanest energy is the energy not used. Implementing aggressive energy efficiency measures in venue design, lighting, heating, cooling, and operational practices can drastically reduce overall energy demand, lessening the reliance on any form of external energy purchase, certified or otherwise. * **Sustainable Transport:** Beyond venue energy, the carbon footprint of athlete, spectator, and staff travel is enormous. Investing in robust public transport infrastructure, encouraging active travel (walking, cycling), and promoting low-emission vehicle fleets are crucial. * **Waste Management and Circular Economy:** Aim for zero-waste events through extensive recycling, composting, and reducing single-use plastics. Implementing circular economy principles in everything from catering to venue construction materials can significantly reduce environmental impact. * **Water Conservation:** Especially for winter games that require snow production, responsible water management is vital. Utilising sustainable snow-making techniques, rainwater harvesting, and efficient water fixtures can minimise strain on local water resources. * **Leave a Positive Legacy:** True sustainability extends beyond the event itself. What long-term benefits will the Games bring to the host city and region? This could include new public transport systems, refurbished green spaces, accessible renewable energy infrastructure, or educational programs. Milan Cortina's vision for sustainable events is something many can learn from; read more at Clean Energy at the Games: Milan Cortina's Vision for Sustainable Events. * **Transparency and Reporting:** Clear, comprehensive, and honest reporting on sustainability metrics, including a detailed breakdown of energy sources, emissions, and mitigation strategies, is essential for building trust and demonstrating genuine progress.

Conclusion

The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics' pledge for 100% clean electricity, primarily via Guarantee of Origin certificates, highlights the complex and evolving landscape of sustainability in major global events. While GO certificates offer a market-based approach to support renewable energy development and allow organisers to meet ambitious green targets, they also spark a crucial debate about the true "greenness" of energy consumption at the point of use. Critics argue that while financially supporting renewables is valuable, it doesn't instantly transform the local grid mix feeding the event. Ultimately, the drive for olympics clean energy is a journey, not a destination. Milan Cortina's efforts represent a significant step forward, demonstrating a clear commitment to environmental responsibility. For future host cities, the key lies in understanding the nuances of mechanisms like GO certificates, while simultaneously embracing a broader, more holistic approach to sustainability that includes energy efficiency, direct renewable generation where possible, and a lasting positive legacy for the environment and local communities. The conversation surrounding GO certificates pushes us to think more critically about what it truly means for an event of Olympic scale to be genuinely "clean" and sustainable.