Hydrogen

The administrator of the Estonian Guarantees of Origin system is the transmission system operator, who issues Guarantees of Origin in Estonia and manages the electronic database of Guarantees of Origin (hereinafter referred to as the register). All activities related to the issuance, transfer, and cancellation of hydrogen Guarantees of Origin are carried out within the register.

The standard terms and conditions for the use of biomethane and hydrogen Guarantees of Origin set out the rules and procedures for using the register, under which market participants can perform operations with Guarantees of Origin. The standard terms are established pursuant to § 32¹⁰ subsection 12 of the Energy Sector Organisation Act.

The quantity of hydrogen for which a Guarantee of Origin is issued is calculated based on the higher heating value (HHV).

A Guarantee of Origin can be transferred electronically only within the register, between different accounts.

Types of Hydrogen Guarantees of Origin

The register issues the following three types of hydrogen Guarantees of Origin:

1. Guarantees of Origin for hydrogen that meets the criteria of renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO);
2. Guarantees of Origin for other renewable hydrogen;
3. Guarantees of Origin for fossil hydrogen.

Hydrogen that meets the RFNBO criteria is considered renewable hydrogen, with compliance verified by an appropriate certificate. Proof of compliance with RFNBO criteria is carried out through voluntary schemes recognized by the European Commission (link).

Other renewable hydrogen refers to hydrogen of renewable origin that does not meet the RFNBO criteria.

Fossil hydrogen Guarantees of Origin are issued to hydrogen producers for hydrogen produced from fossil sources.

To receive Guarantees of Origin, the hydrogen producer must, at the beginning of the calendar month following the production period (calendar month), submit in the register the quantities of:

• electricity used for hydrogen production that meets RFNBO criteria,
• other renewable electricity,
• grid electricity,
• fossil electricity,
  as well as the total quantity of hydrogen produced.
  Based on the data submitted, the register calculates the total number of Guarantees of Origin to be issued and their distribution by hydrogen type.

For hydrogen production using grid electricity, the share considered to meet RFNBO criteria corresponds to the share of renewable electricity produced in Estonia relative to total electricity consumption in Estonia, based on data from two years prior. The remaining electricity is considered fossil.

Electricity supplied directly from a power generation installation to a hydrogen production installation via a direct connection is considered to meet RFNBO criteria, provided that the requirements set out in Article 3 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 2023/1184 are fulfilled.

Article 4 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 2023/1184 establishes additional requirements that must be met for grid electricity to be fully considered as meeting RFNBO criteria.

Registration-related forms can be found here.

For questions and suggestions related to hydrogen Guarantees of Origin, please contact biomethane@elextra.ee