As biomethane production in Lithuania grows rapidly, demand for guarantees of origin for this gas is rising in tandem. Over the first three quarters of this year, Lithuania's gas transmission system operator Amber Grid issued almost 2.4 times more biomethane guarantees of origin than over the same period last year.

Guarantees of origin are electronic certificates confirming the renewable origin of green gas. Once biomethane injected into the gas system mixes with conventional natural gas, guarantees of origin make it possible to trace and confirm what share of the gas consumed, exported, or imported in a country was produced from renewable energy sources. The green gas guarantees of origin system in Lithuania is administered by Amber Grid.

Over the first nine months of this year, guarantees of origin confirming more than 380 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy were issued for biomethane produced in Lithuania, compared with 160 GWh over the same period last year. The volume of guarantees of origin issued this year already exceeds the total for all of 2025 – last year, more than 230 GWh of guarantees of origin were issued.

"Every year, new biomethane producers are connected to the gas network, which is why we're seeing a surge in production and in the issuance of guarantees of origin – and this potential is still far from exhausted. Biomethane is becoming an increasingly significant part of Lithuania's energy system. It's also a type of green energy that our society understands and supports well. A public survey commissioned by the company this year showed that residents can very accurately identify the main benefits for the state – the potential for a circular economy, strengthening energy independence, and an alternative to fossil fuels in the transport sector," says Nemunas Biknius, CEO of Amber Grid.

Biomethane consumption in Lithuania is growing, with most of this green gas being used in the transport sector. Over the first nine months of this year, the transport sector consumed 102 GWh of biomethane with guarantees of origin, compared with 65 GWh over the same period last year.

Demand for guarantees of origin is being further driven by demand for Lithuanian biomethane in other European countries. Over the first three quarters of this year, 242 GWh of biomethane was exported abroad via the guarantees of origin system – three times more than over the same period last year, when 77 GWh was exported.

Export growth is also being supported by the fact that the guarantees of origin registry administered by Amber Grid is connected to platforms administered by the AIB and ERGaR associations, which enable guarantees of origin to be transferred to other European countries.

Over the first nine months of this year, 50 GWh of biomethane was imported into Lithuania via the guarantees of origin system, compared with 55 GWh over the same period last year.

Biomethane production capacity in the country is growing rapidly: while Lithuania had just one biomethane plant operating in 2023, a year ago there were 6, and there are now 17. Seven plants are connected to the gas transmission system, one to the distribution network, while biomethane produced at the remaining plants is transported in compressed form by specialised tanker trucks and enters the gas system through designated injection points.