Homeowners and businesses are increasingly looking for ways to cut electric bills and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. In addition to the mix of state-level incentives in Massachusetts, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are another option to reward the move to clean energy.
A REC is basically a receipt for the positive environmental benefit from your solar energy system’s generation of 1 megawatt-hour (1,000 kilowatt-hours) of electricity. It’s separate from the actual power you use at your home or business, and it can be bought, sold, or traded on its own.
At My Generation Energy, we want to help our customers understand RECS, which is why our team includes professional incentive guidance with every residential solar installation. Here, we’ll walk you through what RECs are, how they work in Massachusetts, and what they can mean for your solar savings.
Why RECs Matter for Solar Owners
Renewable Energy Certificates give Massachusetts solar owners extra value for the clean electricity their systems produce, in addition to electric bill savings. By selling your RECs, you’re speeding up your return on investment and supporting a cleaner grid.
How RECs Work in Massachusetts
Under the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), Massachusetts has mandated clean energy requirements for electricity providers. This regulation requires electricity suppliers to obtain a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Utilities and suppliers can purchase RECs generated by qualified solar projects to help meet these targets.
RECs are bought and sold in a market. The price changes over time based on how much clean energy is available and how much suppliers need to meet state requirements. Here’s what to know:
- 1 REC equivalent of 1 megawatt‑hour (MWh) of renewable electricity (1,000 kWh).
- REC value is market‑based, determined by supply and demand and the state’s renewable targets under the RPS.
- Facilities must be certified by the MA Department of Energy Resources (DOER) to participate and sell RECs.
How Do Solar Energy Systems Start Earning RECs?
Your solar energy installation can start earning RECs as soon as it’s interconnected, as long as the certification application is submitted before the end of that quarter. That timing matters because RECs are created based on how much your system generates on a quarterly basis. Your system remains eligible as long as it continues to meet program rules and continues to generate power.
At My Generation Energy, we:
- Handle the paperwork needed to get your system properly interconnected.
- Facilitate the relationship between you and a REC broker, like SRECTrade, so your system can start generating and selling RECs as soon as it’s eligible.
Who Is SRECTrade and What Do They Do?
SRECTrade is one of the largest third‑party solar REC aggregators in the country, and who we most often work with when helping Cape Cod homeowners navigate RECs. They handle the technical and market details involved in selling RECs. By managing a large number of solar systems and bundling RECs from many projects together, they can offer the best value for your generated RECs.
My Generation Energy helps set up automatic reporting, including an initial subscription period at no extra cost, so your solar production data is sent to partners like SRECTrade on time and your RECs can be tracked and sold on your behalf.
Start Saving with Solar and Earning + Selling RECs!
If you’re considering solar for your home or business, working with an experienced local installer makes it much easier to understand how RECs and other Massachusetts incentives work together for you.
Since 2008, My Generation Energy has been designing and installing high‑performance solar systems across Greater Boston and the South Coast. We’ll help you navigate incentives, estimate your long‑term savings, and design a system that fits your property and goals.
