- Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) named as one of only two Approved Certification Schemes for evidencing green gas supply within Green Gas Levy regulations;
- REA join GGCS in welcoming Green Gas Support Scheme, which will support increased biomethane injection into the gas grid;
- REA have worked closely with BEIS to advocate for this support and inform the design of the GGSS on behalf of their members;
- Recognition of green gas supply using Guarantees of Origin is an important step forward for embedding green gas into government policy.
The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) has announced it will be one of only two Approved Certification Schemes for evidencing green gas supply within the upcoming Green Gas Levy (GGL).
The GGL, first announced in the March 2020 Budget, will fund support for biomethane injection into the gas grid through the new Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS).
The GGSS is intended to encourage the deployment of new anaerobic digestion biomethane plants, and consequently increase the proportion of green gas in the gas grid, by providing support to biomethane producers. The REA have worked closely with BEIS to advocate for this support and inform the design of the GGSS on behalf of their members.
The GGL will be placed on all licenced gas suppliers in Great Britain, except those who are exempt. Exemptions to the levy are provided when a supplier provides all of its customers more than 95% green gas over the compliance year. To evidence this supply, gas consumption must be matched to a green gas guarantee of origin issued by an approved scheme.
To become an approved scheme the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) assessed the operations of the GGCS against a range of criteria that show the scheme operations to be of a high standard. This included a positive assessment of the Scheme’s Guarantees of Origin issuing process, internal and external auditing, and the security of the registry’s IT systems.
Jesse Scharf, Scheme Manager at GGCS, said:
“GGCS being named as named as one of only two Approved Certification Schemes for evidencing green gas supply within the Green Gas Levy regulations reflects our organisation’s hard work since its inception in 2011 to ensure the highest possible standards within the biomethane market.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates our auditing and management system stand up to government scrutiny and that suppliers and consumers can use our Scheme with confidence.
“It is also an important step for the green gas market, with explicit recognition of the role of Guarantees of Origin in evidencing green gas supply to consumers. By joining a green gas tariff consumers can support UK green gas production, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and help meet our Net Zero targets.”
Kiara Zennaro, Head of Heat and Green Gas Lead at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA), said:
“The REA warmly welcomes today’s launch of the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) to support biomethane injection into the gas grid and the announcement that our subsidiary GGCS will be listed as an Approved Certification Schemes for evidencing green gas supply.
“Decarbonising the UK’s extensive grid with biomethane and other green gases is absolutely vital to achieving Net Zero and help move away from fossil gas, whilst delivering wider benefits to the farming, industry and waste sectors. GGCS’s hard work to implement credible and robust processes ensures customers can be fully confident their green gas is 100% renewable.
“On behalf of our members, the REA have worked closely with BEIS to advocate for this support and inform the design of the GGSS. We now look forward to working closely with BEIS over the coming months to inform the mid-scheme review and the design of any longer-term mechanism to support further greening of the gas grid after the GGSS.”
Chris Greer, Contracts Manager at GEUK, said:
“As the UK’s only supplier of 100% green gas, we are delighted that the Green Gas Certification Scheme has been approved by BEIS as a method of evidencing Green Gas supply.
“The generation of green gas will play an increasingly significant role in supporting the transition to a net zero economy, so we welcome this recognition of the green gas market as a hugely important milestone, helping to raise the profile of bio-methane as an environmentally-friendly energy source.
“For several years now, the Green Gas Certification scheme has enabled us to provide our customers with the reassurance that all their energy comes from 100% green and renewable sources, and we look forward to continuing this partnership as we supply the only Green Gas Levy exempt tariff in the UK.”
—ENDS—
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Notes to editors
- Full details of GGL rates and exemptions: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-gas-levy-ggl-rates-and-exemptions
- There is currently only one 100% green gas tariff in the UK, offered by GEUK.
About the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA):
The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (known as the REA) is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, power and the Circular Economy. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation representing fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.
For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net
About The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS):
GGCS tracks biomethane, or ‘green gas’, through the supply chain to provide certainty for those that buy it. GGCS tracks each unit of green gas from its injection into the distribution grid, to any trades, to its sale to consumers. GGCS traces the contractual (rather than physical) flows to ensure there is no double-counting from production to end use. GGCS is administered by Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd.
For more information, visit: https://www.greengas.org.uk/