Guarantees of Origin
What are Guarantees of Origin?
A Guarantee of Origin (GoO) is a digital certificate that serves as proof that the energy carrier in question has a sustainable origin. A GoO stands for 1 MWh of sustainably generated energy. The certificate includes information about the energy source, the production installation and the production date and place.
Suppliers can thus demonstrate that the energy they supply comes from a sustainable source. VertiCer is the point of contact in the Netherlands for the issue of GoOs for sustainable energy carriers: electricity, thermal energy, green gas and green hydrogen.
What are Certificates of Origin?
A Certificate of Origin (CoO) is proof that electricity was generated from fossil sources. CoOs work in the same way as GoOs.
A CoO represents 1 MWh of non-sustainably generated electricity. The certificate includes information about the energy source, the production installation and the production date and place. VertiCer is the office for issuing CoOs in the Netherlands.
The operation of GoOs and CoOs
A producer of (renewable) energy can register a production installation with VertiCer. The metering responsible party (grid operator or metering company) establishes this registration. After the production installation has been established and registered with VertiCer, the grid operator or metering company sends the metering values to VertiCer. For each MWh generated by your installation, VertiCer issues a Guarantee of Origin or Certificate of Origin, if the applicable conditions have been met.
The certificates contain information about where, when and from which source the energy was generated. One GoO/CoO is good for 1 MWh and is valid for one year after the month in which the energy was generated.
With GoOs and CoOs, you contribute to the energy transition. The more visibility there is on exactly what energy is being generated, the more consciously consumers and companies can choose what kind of energy they want to consume. Explicitly opting for sustainable energy is thus encouraged.
What can I do with a GoO or CoO?
A trader can trade GoOs and CoOs across Europe. The GoOs and CoOs can be charged by traders to an end user or to the NEa for making HBEs.
A producer or individual can receive subsidies from the RVO if he has a subsidy decision. RVO uses information on the GoOs of a producer or individual for the subsidy.
Frequently asked questions
You can find the user guides for MyVertiCer on the Downloads page of our website.
You can request Guarantees of Origin for fossil electricity and renewable electricity, green gas, green hydrogen, and renewable thermal energy.
Users of GOs can use your certificates to prove that they are actually consuming renewable energy.
Additionally, you may need GOs to qualify for subsidies or to comply with other national obligations (such as Emission Reduction Units (ERUs), formerly Renewable Fuel Units for transport). For more information about these schemes, please refer to the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa).
You can file an objection against a decision made by VertiCer, for example regarding the issuance of Guarantees of Origin. Submit your objection within 6 weeks of the decision to:
VertiCer B.V.
Postbus 99
9700 AB Groningen
Email: [email protected]
Your objection must be signed and include at least:
- Your name and address
- The date of the objection
- A description of the decision you are objecting to
- The reasons for your objection
In urgent cases, you can also request a provisional measure or suspension of the decision from the preliminary relief judge (voorzieningenrechter) of the Administrative High Court for Trade and Industry:
Postbus 20021
2500 EA The Hague
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We are happy to help you. View the most frequently asked questions, or contact our service desk if you have not found the answer.
