First Certificates of Origin Guarantee issued for biomethane produced in Portugal

REN – Rede Eléctrica Nacional S.A., in its capacity as a Guarantees of Origin Issuing Entity (EEGO), carried out on March 20 the first issuance of Guarantees of Origin (GO) for biomethane produced in Portugal. This issuance marks a new milestone in the development of the national renewable energy market and in the consolidation of the European energy certification system.

With this first issuance of biomethane Guarantees of Origin, Portugal strengthens its position in the European energy certificate market, contributing to the decarbonization of the economy and to the development of a true European market for GO from renewable gases.
The Guarantees of Origin now issued certify the origin of the biomethane produced by Capwatt at the Aljustrel Biomethane Production Plant, making the company the first entity to receive a production certificate for this renewable gas within the country.

GOs are electronic certificates that prove to the end consumer that a given amount of energy was produced from a specific source and using a specific technology. In the case of renewable energy, the issuance of these guarantees allows for the certification of the energy’s origin, enabling suppliers and end consumers to demonstrate their renewable energy consumption, particularly in the context of their sustainability strategies and respective reporting obligations. In the case of biomethane, GOs are particularly important as they ensure the traceability and valorization of renewable gases, promoting the decarbonization of sectors that are difficult to electrify.

In June 2024, EEGO began expanding its activities into the gas sector, initially with operations exclusively within Portugal. In November of the same year, upon joining the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) and the European Energy Certificate System (EECS), it also began covering international operations, fully integrating into European platforms and enabling the free circulation and mutual recognition of these certificates. With this step, Portugal joined the group of countries leading the implementation of this system at the European level.

Currently, 13 countries are already connected through this system, with significant growth expected in the coming years.