RE100

RE100
Melanie Maecker-Tursun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	RE100
Formation	2014
Type	International initiative
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Location	Global
Parent organization	The Climate Group
Partners	Carbon Disclosure Project, World Wide Fund for Nature, Bloomberg Philanthropies

RE100

RE100 is a global corporate initiative that brings together influential multinational companies committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity. It aims to accelerate the transition to clean energy by leveraging the purchasing power of large enterprises to stimulate investment in solar power, wind power, hydropower, and other low-carbon technologies. The initiative is administered by The Climate Group in partnership with Carbon Disclosure Project and engages with market actors, policy makers, and investors to scale renewable energy procurement across sectors and regions.

Overview

RE100 convenes major business leaders to set public targets for procuring renewable electricity, linking corporate purchasing commitments to broader efforts such as Science Based Targets initiative, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and national climate targets under the Paris Agreement. Members pledge time-bound goals—commonly by 2025, 2030, or 2050—to shift power consumption toward certified renewable sources, power purchase agreements, and onsite generation. The initiative interfaces with market mechanisms such as renewable energy certificates, guarantees of origin, and corporate power purchase agreement frameworks while aligning with standards developed by International Renewable Energy Agency, WRI, and regional grid operators.

History and Development

RE100 was launched in 2014 by The Climate Group in collaboration with CDP and quickly attracted early commitments from major technology and retail firms. In its formative years the initiative capitalized on corporate renewable procurement trends exemplified by pioneering deals such as those negotiated by Google, Apple Inc., and Microsoft. Expansion followed as companies in manufacturing, automotive, and financial services joined, influenced by policy developments in the European Union, United States, and China. Over successive years RE100 updated guidance on reporting, additionality, and procurement, responding to methodological debates advanced by organizations including World Resources Institute, Energy Transitions Commission, and International Energy Agency.

Membership and Criteria

Membership requires a public commitment to source 100% of electricity from renewable sources by an announced target year, verified annual reporting through platforms such as CDP, and engagement in market or policy initiatives that support renewable deployment. Signatory organizations range from Fortune 500 technology firms to regional utilities, spanning sectors represented by bodies like World Economic Forum and International Chamber of Commerce. RE100 distinguishes procurement routes—onsite generation, virtual power purchase agreements, and market-based instruments—referring members to accounting frameworks from GHG Protocol and guidance from Electricity Information producers. The initiative accepts multinational corporate headquarters across multiple jurisdictions, requiring transparency on energy consumption, contractual pathways, and interim milestones.

Impact and Criticism

RE100 has catalyzed substantial corporate demand for renewables, with members reporting investments in solar photovoltaic projects, large-scale onshore wind farms, and cross-border power purchase agreement portfolios that mobilize capital and influence grid decarbonization. Analysts from BloombergNEF, McKinsey & Company, and IEA have credited corporate procurement with lowering levelized costs of clean generation and expanding corporate influence in energy markets. Critics, including researchers from Oxford Martin School and advocacy groups such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace, have questioned claims of additionality, temporal mismatches, and reliance on unbundled certificates like renewable energy certificates that may not drive new capacity. Debates persist over accounting conventions promoted by GHG Protocol and the need for more stringent integrity markers akin to those proposed by Science Based Targets Network.

Implementation Strategies and Reporting

Members pursue a mix of strategies: onsite distributed generation, virtual and physical corporate power purchase agreements, direct investment in renewable energy projects, and purchasing traceable instruments such as guarantees of origin. RE100 provides technical guidance aligned with WRI accounting, advising on grid-level impacts, contractual additionality, and temporal matching to improve claim robustness. Reporting obligations require annual disclosure via platforms like CDP and public progress updates coordinated with sustainability reporting frameworks such as Global Reporting Initiative and filings to securities regulators like US Securities and Exchange Commission. Third-party auditors, legal advisors, and energy service companies including Schneider Electric and Siemens often assist members in deal structuring and compliance.

Regional and Sectoral Initiatives

RE100 activity is uneven across regions and industries; high participation exists in Europe, driven by regulatory frameworks in the European Union, and in the United States where corporate PPA markets expanded rapidly. Growth in India, China, and Latin America faces different grid, policy, and financial constraints, prompting RE100 to collaborate with regional partners such as NREL, TERI, and CEM to tailor approaches. Sectoral workstreams target energy-intensive industries represented by International Aluminium Institute, Steelmaking industry consortia, and the aviation and shipping sectors, coordinating with initiatives like EV100 and EP100 to integrate electrification, efficiency, and renewables procurement across value chains.

Category:Environmental organizations