ZF Green Electricity Verification
China Suppliers: How to Get ZF-Verified
ZF requires proof that your electricity is green. This page explains exactly what you need to do. Simple English. Step by step.
We have verified Chinese suppliers from Shandong, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other provinces.
Fully remote. No on-site visits. No disruption to your production.
What Does ZF Want From You?
ZF wants to prove that the electricity used to produce ZF parts comes from renewable sources. This is not optional. It is part of ZF's sustainability requirements.
Buy Green Certificates
Purchase GECs or I-RECs that cover the electricity used for ZF production.
Get Verified
An independent auditor (like justReporting) checks the certificates and issues a report.
Submit to ZF
Send the report to ZF. Done. Valid for multiple years.
GECs vs. I-RECs: Which Do I Need?
In China, you can use either GECs (Chinese national system) or I-RECs (international system). ZF accepts both.
Which Certificate for Which Region?
+ International RECs
EAC (Energy Attribute Certificate) is the umbrella term for all certificate types.
GECs (Green Electricity Certificates)
- Chinese national certificate system
- Available from wind and solar generators across China
- Government redemption platform available, free to use
- Prices vary. Contact us for current rates.
- ZF accepts GECs with proper redemption
I-RECs (International RECs)
- International certificate standard
- Available in China and most other countries
- Established redemption and tracking system
- 18-month validity period for ZF verification
- ZF accepts I-RECs, standard for international suppliers
New: GEC Redemption Platform
China has a voluntary government platform where you can officially redeem your GECs and add a purpose statement.
How It Works
- 1Create an account on the platform (free)
- 2All your purchased GECs appear automatically
- 3Select GECs and add purpose: "Used for production of ZF parts"
- 4Download the white redemption statement
Important Notes
- Free: no cost for using the platform
- Voluntary: not yet mandatory, but ZF recommends it
- Retroactive: you can redeem GECs purchased in previous years (within 2-year validity)
- Irreversible: once redeemed, GECs cannot be re-used for another customer
Mass Balance: Only Verify the ZF Portion
If ZF is not your only customer, you do not need 100% green electricity. You only need to cover the ZF share.
How Mass Balance Works
If ZF is not your only customer, you only verify the ZF portion of your electricity.
Example: Your factory uses 10,000,000 kWh per year. ZF is 30% of your revenue.
You need GECs or I-RECs for 3,000,000 kWh (= 30% of total consumption).
Your Verification in 4 Steps
The entire process is fully remote. No auditor will visit your factory.
Buy GECs or I-RECs
Purchase certificates for the ZF portion of your electricity. Through a broker or directly.
Redeem on Platform
Log into the government redemption platform. Add purpose statement: 'For ZF production.' Free to use.
Send to justReporting
Send us: certificates, consumption data, revenue data (for mass balance). We verify everything.
Receive Report
We issue a ZF-compliant verification report. Upload to SupplyOn or send to ZF directly.
Common Questions
I have solar panels on my roof. Does that count?
Your own solar power (PV self-consumption) counts as green electricity. It reduces the amount of certificates you need to buy. For example, if 20% of your electricity comes from your own solar panels, you only need certificates for the remaining 80%.
ZF is only 15% of my revenue. Is it worth it?
With mass balance, you only verify 15% of your electricity. The certificate cost for a medium factory is minimal. The verification itself takes ~4 auditor days. Consider: is the ZF relationship worth protecting?
I already buy I-RECs for another customer. Can I reuse them?
No. Each certificate can only be retired once. But if your total electricity consumption is covered by certificates, mass balance allocation can distribute them across customers. You do not need to buy separate certificates for each customer.
We were verified last year. Is it cheaper this time?
Yes. We already know your company, your energy setup, and your documents. Follow-up verification typically takes ~1 auditor day instead of 4 — significantly faster and cheaper than the initial verification.
Should I buy GECs with same-year vintage?
For ZF purposes: 18-month vintage is accepted. But if you also need certificates for Chinese government purposes, buy same-year vintage (certificates matching the consumption year). This is the safest choice if you use GECs for multiple purposes.
Can we have 5 factories verified together?
Yes. If all sites are in China with centralized energy procurement, we do one consolidated verification. This saves time and cost. We issue one report covering all sites.
Typical Effort
Effort in auditor days. Daily rate on request. Transparent quote before engagement.
Ready to Get Started?
Send us an email. We respond within one business day. No cost, no obligations. We explain your situation and give you a clear quote.
Languages: German and English. Serving clients worldwide.
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