Guarantees of origin

Guarantees of origin

The demand for gas produced from renewable energy sources (RES), also known as green gas, recently has showed a strong growth in Europe, and this type of energy has been making its way in Lithuania. The development of green gas market brings Lithuania closer to the task of reducing climate change impacts and becoming the country of green energy. The natural gas transmission system operator Amber Grid supports and contributes and promotes green energy development.

From 1 June 2019, Amber Grid administers the National Register of Guarantees of Origin of gas produced from RES, in other words, performs the functions of issue, transfer and cancel of Guarantees of Origin (GO), and supervises and controls the use of GOs as well as provides the recognition of GOs issued in other countries.

Green gas is produced from biomass and other RES. GO is granted for one unit of energy, i.e. one megawatt-hour (MWh) supplied to the natural gas transmission and distribution network.

The system of GOs allows to identify, register and monitor the origin of green gas produced. The users of this energy can be assured that the gas they use has been produced using RES. This system is important for companies that want to use green energy produced in Lithuania or other European Union country.

The team at the Registry of Guarantees of Origin at Amber Grid has recently observed an increased demand for cross-border transactions for guarantees of origin to and from Lithuania. Due to varying requirements across different countries regarding the acceptance of cancellation statements for guarantees of origin, as well as specific regulations related to consumption accounting for the import of guarantees of origin into Lithuania, we kindly advise traders to clarify these requirements in advance. We strongly encourage you to reach out to the Registry of Guarantees of Origin team at Amber Grid to discuss the specifics of any planned cross-border transactions. Early consultation will help mitigate potential risks and ensure a smooth process for the transactions involving guarantees of origin.

Registration of producer:

• Producer having a license to produce gas from RES and willing to acquire GO, shall apply to Amber Grid electronically for registration in the Database (application form)
• Producer shall provide the license to produce gas from RES
• Producer shall sign service agreement

• Producer having a license to produce gas from RES has to register the production device in the GO registry
• Producer shall apply to Amber Grid for registration of the equipment (application form)
• Amber Grid shall register production device in the GO registry.

• The GO is granted for one unit of energy - one megawatt-hour (MWh One GO can be issued for each unit of energy produced from RES. The GO has to be used within 12 months from the moment of production of the relevant energy unit. GOs having not been used within the specified period shall be cancelled.
• Terms and requirements for GO issuing are set our in the Minister of energy order for gas GOs administration.

• Supplier or trader willing to acquire the GO, shall register in Amber Grid GO registry (application form)
• Supplier or trader shall sign service agreement.
   

Gas suppliers willing to register in Lithuania the GOs issued by other countries issuing bodies, have to be registered in the Amber Grid Go registry. Gas suppliers or traders shall submit to Amber Grid a free-form application for the recognition of GO issued in other country and submit additional information set out in the Minister of energy order for gas GOs administration.

Amber Grid is the designated body to perform the functions of issue, transfer and cancelation of GOs of gas produced from RES, as well as recognize in Lithuania the GOs issued in other countries. These GOs rules are binding for gas producers, gas suppliers, gas transmission and distribution system operators as well as other market participants that intend to acquire or have in possession the GOs and submit information to the designated body.

• Law on Natural Gas
• Law on Renewable Energy
• Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Law on Legal Protection of Personal Data
• Order on approval of the rules of guaranties of origin (unofficial translation)

Latest data on guaranties of origin

go@ambergrid.lt