What Are RECs and How Can Singapore Homeowners and Businesses Use Them?

What is a REC?

A Renewable Energy Certificate is a tradeable proof that one megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) of electricity was generated from a renewable source such as solar. In Singapore the common standard is the I-REC (International REC). The certificate is separate from the electricity itself, so it can be sold on its own. That is what makes it a second, independent income stream for solar owners.

Two income streams, not one

Solar on a Singapore landed home can earn money two separate ways at the same time:

• SCT is for eligible consumers buying electricity at SP Group’s regulated tariff. Eligible consumers buying from a retailer may use ECIS, with market-linked export prices. The distinction is based on the electricity purchase arrangement and eligibility, not simply the property type or system size. S$0.22/kWh is a rounded Q4 2026 SCT illustration, not a guaranteed payment or an ECIS rate.
• RECs. Separately, every MWh you generate, whether you use it or export it, earns one tradeable I-REC.

The two do not cancel each other out. You keep the bill savings and the export credits, and the RECs are extra.

How much can a homeowner earn from RECs?

At 1,100 kWh/kWp reference yield, a 15 kWp illustration generates 16,500 kWh a year, equivalent to about 16.5 MWh before eligibility and transaction checks. REC revenue depends on certificate eligibility, ownership, fees and prices; the calculator excludes it. Do not add an assumed REC income to a published payback without stating the source and costs. Typical payback for a Singapore landed home is 3 to 6 years, based on AIKO panels with a 30-year warranty. Your own payback depends on installed cost, roof yield, shading, how much power you use on site and your import and export rates. Use the calculator for an estimate and get a roof and usage assessment.

Why managing RECs yourself is hard

Earning RECs sounds simple, but doing it alone is not. You have to register your system with the I-REC Standard, meter and track generation, and submit data for certification on a regular cycle. Each step carries fees and paperwork, and the market price moves, so for a single home the admin and cost often outweigh the income.

For businesses: buying RECs in Singapore

Companies buy RECs to show they are sourcing renewable energy for sustainability reporting under frameworks such as RE100, GRI, TCFD and CDP. In Singapore, businesses buy I-RECs through registered platforms and licensed traders, with prices set by market demand. Rezeca does not trade RECs.

The bottom line

RECs turn the clean energy your roof already produces into a little extra income, and they give businesses a credible way to back up renewable-energy claims. For homeowners, the RECs your system generates are yours to keep, and the income is a modest top-up to your bill savings. For businesses, sourcing verified local I-RECs supports stronger, more defensible sustainability reporting.

Want to learn more about solar and RECs in Singapore? Talk to Rezeca.

Solar in a new light.

Further questions

What is a Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)?

A REC is a tradeable proof that one megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) of electricity was generated from a renewable source such as solar. In Singapore the common standard is the I-REC. The certificate is separate from the electricity itself.

How can a Singapore homeowner earn from solar RECs?

Solar on a landed home can earn two ways at once: savings and export credits on your electricity bill, plus income from the RECs your system generates. A typical 15 kWp system produces around 16,500 kWh a year, roughly 16 to 17 I-RECs.

How much can a homeowner earn from RECs?

REC income is modest. Certificate prices vary with market demand and have recently sat at a few dollars each, so a typical landed-home system earns from a few tens to low hundreds of dollars a year, depending on generation and price.