How to Buy I-RECs in Vietnam

Posted : July 28, 2025
Buyers of Environmental Commodities

Companies across the globe have been empowered to reduce their emissions using renewable energy certificates (RECs), such as those supported by the International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs).

Businesses in Vietnam can now take advantage of I-RECs to reduce their Scope 2 Emissions. This is one of the most simple ways to take climate action!

This article looks at how to buy I-RECs in Vietnam.

What Happens When Power is Purchased in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, electricity used by companies is drawn from a national grid run by Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The electricity supplied by EVN is a mix of conventional non-renewable sources like coal and natural gas, and renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro.

As a result, every MWh that is used by a company results in the emission of greenhouse gases. Nearly 40% of global emissions relates to the generation and use of electricity, and in Vietnam, the emissions from the grid are quite significant because of the large amount of power sourced from coal.

These emissions are termed Scope 2 emissions. Reducing Scope 2 emissions has become a global priority and many companies have committed to achieving Near Term Targets of 80% renewable energy use by 2025.

Companies can’t choose to exclusively use renewable energy from the Vietnamese grid. The electricity supplied will be a mix of all the electricity generated, including from non-renewable sources.

I-RECs solve this problem.

What are I-RECs?

The I-REC Standard is a global system for tracking the environmental attributes of electricity generated from renewable sources. The tracking is achieved by the use of verified, traceable certificates known as I-RECs.

I-RECs monitor the journey of renewable energy from its generation at a power plant to its consumption by the end user. The system for I-RECs operates much like the Guarantees of Origin (GOs) in Europe and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) in the United States. While GOs and RECs track energy in their markets, I-RECs offers this capability in many other countries.

How do I-RECs Work?

I-RECs are created for each MWh of renewable energy produced by power plants registered on the I-REC Standard. Businesses can then purchase these I-RECs to ensure that no greenhouse gas has been released in the generation of the electricity they’ve used.

The revenue generated supports the development of new renewable energy projects, encouraging further reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and benefiting end-consumers.

How do Vietnamese Companies Benefit from Using I-RECs?

I-RECs are a practical tool used by companies to meet their sustainability goals in relation to emissions reduction. Some of the key benefits for businesses using I-RECs includes:

Reducing an organisation’s carbon footprint (Scope 2 emissions) with an established, accepted and cost-effective initiative
Enabling companies to choose to use renewable energy, and enabling companies to choose which specific renewable energy power plant to support
Achieving your sustainability goals, in compliance with different environmental company standards, such as Greenhouse Gas Protocols, RE100, SBTi, the Net-Zero Standard, CDP and others.

These changes can improve a company’s public image, showcasing a commitment to combating climate change.

How to Start Using I-RECs in Vietnam

It’s easy for a company in Vietnam to start to use I-RECs.

Simply calculate your company’s electricity consumption in MWh and purchase an equivalent number of RECs.

Monsoon Carbon can then retire these certificates, with your company’s details attached. An example is provided below:

Though using I-RECs to reduce your carbon emissions is not complex or difficult, there are rigorous rules applied to the use of I-RECs that your company should be aware of. These rules determine whether your I-RECs are eligible for counting towards reducing your carbon footprint or not. Monsoon Carbon can help you to navigate these rules.

How to Buy I-RECs in Vietnam

Monsoon Carbon is a trusted leader providing verified IRECs in Vietnam. We supply solar, wind and hydro I-RECs sourced from a variety of accredited renewable energy power plants in Vietnam on spot or forward orders.