Navigating REC Complexity in the US: A Conversation with Granular Energy’s Ariel Smith

Granular Energy: Welcome, Ariel! To kick things off, could you give us a quick overview of what business development looks like for Granular Energy in the US?

Ariel Smith: Business development in the US is really focused on building brand awareness as we expand our product offerings. We’re moving beyond simply hourly reporting and into the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) portfolio management space – really improving operational efficiency for anyone managing RECs at a large scale. So at the moment I’m going to many trade shows, talking to as many people as possible, getting the word out there and looking for folks that want to learn about our innovative product.

We’re seeing interest from retailers, both mid-sized and large, but ultimately we can fit a variety of different company sizes. The key is helping businesses leverage the benefits of granular data.

Granular Energy: That’s great to hear. What conditions make the US market primed for our software?

Ariel: If you’re managing RECs at all, you already know this is a huge pain point. The US market is uniquely complex. Depending on where you have operations and deliver energy, you could be involved with five or more different registries. And if you're retiring compliance RECs, you’ll find different rules across every single state. Compliance reporting can be incredibly complicated. Essentially, no systems talk to each other, and there’s no single, unified architecture. Having that single source of truth is incredibly valuable for a lot of folks here.

Granular Energy: Let’s dive into those pain points a little deeper. What specific challenges are businesses facing when it comes to managing RECs and energy data in the US?

Ariel: The biggest issues stem from the fragmentation I mentioned. Companies are spending countless hours manually reconciling data across multiple registries, dealing with inconsistent reporting requirements, and struggling to get a clear, accurate picture of their REC portfolio. This leads to increased administrative costs, potential compliance risks, and ultimately, a lack of confidence in their sustainability claims. The lack of interoperability between systems means a lot of time is wasted on data entry and validation rather than strategic analysis. It’s often a reactive process, rather than a proactive one.

Granular Energy: Earlier you mentioned retailers. Can you elaborate on the types of buyers who benefit most from Granular Energy’s solutions?

Ariel: Absolutely. We work with a range of businesses, but our ideal buyers typically fall into a few key categories.

Firstly, retail energy providers who need to manage a large volume of RECs for compliance and customer offerings, helping them track and report on RECs. Secondly, large commercial and industrial (C&I) energy consumers with ambitious sustainability goals and complex energy procurement strategies. And finally, energy developers who need to track and manage their REC generation and sales.

Really, anyone who needs to effectively manage and demonstrate the environmental attributes of their energy supply can benefit from what we offer.

Granular Energy: So, it's really about streamlining a fragmented landscape.

Ariel: Exactly. The complexity is the key challenge we address.

Granular Energy: Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?

Ariel: Absolutely. Rely on Granular Energy! Reach out to us – we’re happy to share insights we’ve learned from the market. We really want to be a trusted advisor for energy suppliers going through the energy transition, whether they're focused on attaining hourly customers at the edge of the market or just trying to manage their existing REC inventory. We want to help anyone in the space who may not realise there’s a better way to do things.

Granular Energy: Thanks Ariel!

Read more about modernising REC management here.