The surrender of one energy savings certificate is equivalent to the abatement of one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Each Liable Entity is required to obtain and surrender energy savings certificates to meet mandatory obligations, however all owners of energy savings certificates may also surrender them to meet personal offset schemes. Energy savings certificates do not have a time limit for surrender. This means that un-surrendered certificates from previous years can be used for surrender in later years. For example, a certificate created in 2010 can be used for surrender in 2011.

On 30 June of each year, energy savings certificates that have been surrendered by participants are formally cancelled by the Registry and cannot be re-surrendered.

Liable Entities (or voluntary participants) surrender their energy savings certificates on the Registry. 

Surrendering certificates

While the surrender 'window' is open, energy savings certificates may be surrendered. To surrender a certificate:

1. navigate to the Registry website https://www.ggas-registry.nsw.gov.au/
2. enter the Registry
3. use your Organisation Identification, User Identification and Password to log on
4. select ‘Surrender Certificates’ from the home page
5. select 'Surrender'
6. enter the number of certificates to surrender
7. select 'Continue' 
8. select 'Confirm' to finalise the surrender.    

Un-surrendering certificates

While the surrender 'window' is open, energy savings certificates may be un-surrendered.  Un-surrendered certificates will be restored to the owner's current holdings. To un-surrender a certificate:

1. navigate to the Registry website https://www.ggas-registry.nsw.gov.au/
2. enter the Registry
3. use your Organisation Identification, User Identification and Password to log on
4. select ‘Surrender Certificates’ from the home page
5. select 'Un-Surrender'
6. enter the number of certificates to un-surrender
7. select 'Continue'
8. select 'Confirm' to finalise the un-surrender.

Surrender 'window'

There are certain times of the year when the surrender 'window' is closed.  For Liable Entities, the surrender window is closed from 30 April through to the end of the each year.  For voluntary participants, the surrender window is closed from 20 June through to 1 July each year.

For voluntary participants, a fact sheet is available which details the process and timing.

       Registry Fact Sheet - Voluntary Surrender112.42KB PDF FileThis fact sheet describes the process of voluntary surrender of energy savings certificates.