Hydrogen

The administrator of the Estonian Guarantees of Origin system is the joint system operator, who issues guarantees of origin in Estonia and manages the electronic database of guarantees of origin (hereinafter, the “Register”). Operations related to the issuance, transfer, and cancellation of hydrogen guarantees of origin are carried out in the Register.

The standard terms and conditions for the use of biomethane and hydrogen guarantees of origin establish the rules and procedures for using the Register, under which a market participant may perform operations with guarantees of origin. The standard terms and conditions are issued pursuant to § 32¹⁰ (12) of the Energy Industry Act.

A hydrogen guarantee of origin is issued to a hydrogen producer to certify the origin of the energy produced and its associated carbon emissions. The hydrogen guarantee of origin is used to verify the origin and carbon emissions of hydrogen delivered to and consumed by the end-user at the metering point.

The quantity of hydrogen for which a guarantee of origin is issued is calculated based on its higher heating value.

A guarantee of origin can only be transferred electronically between different accounts within the Register.

To demonstrate the origin and carbon emissions of hydrogen at the metering point, a market participant in the role of trader performs the cancellation operation of the guarantee of origin in the Register. A hydrogen guarantee of origin can only be cancelled to verify the origin of hydrogen consumed in Estonia at the metering point. For the purpose of verifying the origin of hydrogen via a guarantee of origin, the trader submits the consumer whose metering point is used for origin verification.

The origin of consumed hydrogen can be verified with hydrogen guarantees of origin against actual gas consumption at the metering point. Verification is only possible for hydrogen consumed in the previous calendar month.

For questions or proposals regarding hydrogen guarantees of origin, please contact biometaan@elextra.ee