Renewable gas certification
The Renewable Gas Registry is a key function for the development of a renewable gas industry in Ireland.
Why do we need renewable gas certificates?
There is significant growth in demand from businesses looking to source sustainable and indigenous fuel alternatives. Many large energy users wish to procure renewable gas because they recognise the importance of reducing their carbon footprint and moving towards a more sustainable future for their company and customers.
This demand has created the requirement for a European-wide market of renewable gas certificates. Renewable gas certificates have been administered by registries in several European countries to meet the need for title-tracking of the green value of gas blends from both conventional and renewable origins injected into their national gas networks.
By providing an objective means of tracking the commercial transactions of renewable gas through the supply chain, Ireland's Renewable Gas Registry will help establish trust in the market and confidence in the renewable gas sector. This will support the expansion of production, provide certainty for consumers who buy the gas and provide an incentive for gas producers to inject renewable gas into the network.
Green Gas Certification Project
The main objective of the GreenGasCert project was to develop the blueprint of a certification scheme, which addresses the unique specialties of agricultural production systems and green gas production and utilization in Ireland.
The key elements of the certification scheme blueprint developed in the GreenGasCert project include amongst others:
- a robust methodology for calculating and accounting for greenhouse gas emissions savings arising from biogas use;
- a functional tool for the performance of GHG emission calculations based on actual process information from stakeholders and market actors;
- a set of sustainability criteria, indicators and definitions to be used as a starting point for the process of the actual practical implementation of the sustainability certification scheme;
- a pilot certificate template to define the interfaces and links between the certification scheme and the registry blueprint.
The certification scheme blueprint developed throughout the GreenGasCert project recognizes the mandatory sustainability requirements from the EU Renewable Energies Directive (RED).
Furthermore, the comprehensive GHG calculation methodology included in the blueprint complies with the requirements defined in the EU Renewable Energies Directive. The scheme blueprint developed in the GreenGasCert project is suitable for the sustainability certification of green gas as well as the application of the green gas in different sectors (heat, power, transport).
Our role
Gas Networks Ireland registers and issues certificates to Irish producers that inject renewable gas into the gas network. This includes biomethane, which is a renewable gas produced by anaerobic digestion of biodegradable matter that is then upgraded to network entry specifications prior to injection.
Each certificate represents our guarantee that the equivalent amount of renewable gas has been injected into the gas network. To obtain additional information on the Renewable Gas Registry please email RGcertificates@gasnetworks.ie to obtain a copy of the Rules for Renewable Gas Certificates and Renewable Gas Registry User Agreement.
The Statutory Instrument
The Statutory Instrument number 350 of 2022 was signed into Republic of Ireland legislation on 12th July 2022 by Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Article 25 of the Statutory Instrument appoints Gas Networks Ireland as the Issuing Body for Guarantees of Origin for Gas, produced from renewable sources, including hydrogen produced from renewable sources.
The Statutory Instrument directs the SEAI to establish a procedure to verify that economic operators participating in a support scheme or renewable energy obligation have demonstrated that the biomass fuels they use fulfil the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria set out in its legislation.
What are Guarantees of Origin and Proof of Origin certificates?
The Renewable Gas Registry may issue renewable gas certificates for both:
- An energy-mix declaration for end-consumers – Guarantees of Origin
- Title tracking of renewable gas deliveries – Proofs of Origin
The Guarantee of Origin is a specific certificate defined under Article 19 of the Revised Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (the RED II Directive). The purpose of a Guarantee of Origin is to disclose the origin of the renewable gas to the end-consumer, via a book and claim system. Gas Networks Ireland has commenced issuing renewable certificates on a voluntary basis, while awaiting appointment as the competent body for renewable gas Guarantees of Origin for the Republic of Ireland according to Art. 19 RED II.
For renewable gas deliveries, RED II contains sustainability and greenhouse gas savings criteria, applicable to certain end-uses and market sectors. Where these criteria apply, compliance must be verified independently under specific schemes approved by the European Commission. A Proof of Origin certificate type confirms the mass balancing of the renewable gas through the grid, from injection to withdrawal. A Proof of Origin will have proof of sustainability documentation inseparably connected to it.
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Recognition
Biomethane used to fuel CNG or LNG vehicles is now recognised by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), operated by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA).
Once the biomethane has been supplied to the transport fuel market, the NORA scheme issues RTFO certificates for the biomethane.
Biomethane injected into the Gas Networks Ireland grid can be transported to forecourts which have a CNG refilling station. Where the biomethane is certified by an EU Voluntary scheme as meeting the sustainability and GHG reduction criteria set out in RED II, it is fully renewable. This renewable gas is a zero-emissions fuel in the transport sector and qualifies for the RTFO.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Renewable Gas Registry tracks the allocation of the biomethane from the point of injection into the grid to the point of withdrawal at individual refuelling stations. A Proof of Origin certificate issued by the Registry completes a mass-balance check between injection and withdrawal from the grid.
To complete this, Gas Networks Ireland checks that both injection and withdrawal have taken place by the claiming parties and then assigns the production amount to the withdrawn amount. With the respective cancellation statement, RTFO certs may be claimed. NORA has published a guidance document describing this process.
Import of biomethane certificates
Import of natural gas into Ireland occurs daily at the Moffat Interconnection Point. Therefore, the physical import of biomethane is also possible.
Gas Networks Ireland aims to recognise mass-balance certificates from other European registries transferred to Ireland on a pilot basis. For imported amounts, Gas Networks Ireland may issue a Proof of Origin in the Registry.
Once the Union Database is established, this process may be simplified and a standardised approach for the European gas grid is expected to be developed.
There is no standard procedure for this yet. Contact the Registry if you would like to import physical biomethane into Gas Networks Ireland's grid.
Gas Networks Ireland has been appointed as the Issuing Body for Guarantees of Origin for Gas. At present, the Supervisory Framework governing the operation of the Registry is being prepared by the CRU. When this step is concluded, arrangements for the import and export of Guarantees of Origin will be developed.
Trading and allocation of certificates
Renewable gas certificates may be traded by account holders in the registry prior to the final allocation of renewable gas to a consumer. When an account holder sells renewable gas certificates to a consumer, Gas Networks Ireland cancels the associated certificates in the registry and issues a cancellation statement. This ensures a direct link from producer to consumer and proof of the origin of the renewable energy.
Opening a Renewable Gas Registry account
To register for a renewable gas certificate account, please follow the steps below. We will return a Renewable Gas Registry Agreement to you for your signature and open your account in the registry.
- Complete a Company Account Opening Form
- If you own a renewable gas production facility, complete a Plant Account Opening Form
- Email completed forms to RGcertificates@gasnetworks.ie
Renewable gas production facilities
For all registered renewable gas production facilities, injected amounts will be recorded monthly to their specific plant account. Specific forms must be completed to transfer, cancel or convert certificates. Completed forms must be emailed to RGcertificates@gasnetworks.ie.
A cleaner energy future with renewable gas
To learn more about the Renewable Gas Registry, please contact us and one of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.