In Ukraine, the government adopted a draft resolution about the Procedure for the operation of the biomethane register, which will allow the launch of the biomethane market.
Such a decision is another step towards the full integration of Ukraine into the EU and overcoming dependence on imported energy sources and the development of sustainable energy, reports the State Energy Efficiency Agency on Facebook.
The procedure was developed by the State Energy Efficiency Agency together with the Ministry of Energy to implement the Law of Ukraine dated October 21, 2021 No. 1820 regarding the development of the biomethane market in Ukraine. The State Energy Efficiency Agency is responsible for maintaining the Biomethane Register and issuing guarantees of origin and certificates of origin of biomethane.
The procedure approved on July 22 also takes into account the European practices of functioning of such biomethane registers.
The register will operate in accordance with the requirements of the Order, which defines the procedures:
- creating a register of biomethane, its functionality, terms and procedure for submitting information to it;
- creating a Biomethane Register user account;
- issuance, transfer, distribution and cancellation of guarantees of origin of biomethane;
- issuance of biomethane origin certificates;
- conducting an audit of biomethane production.
It is important that for a biomethane producer to create an account in the Register, it is mandatory to conduct an audit of the biomethane production facility. And the auditor must be certified according to the voluntary sustainable biofuel certification system recognized by the European Commission.
The material explained that the register of guarantees of origin of biomethane will be part of the Unified platform of registers of guarantees of origin of energy in Ukraine, which is being developed by the State Energy Efficiency Agency with the Ministry of Energy.
"In general, the launch of the registry will provide an opportunity to verify and provide producers with guarantees of origin for biomethane supplied to the gas transportation system. This is a necessary component of the future market for the production and use of biomethane in Ukraine to replace gas, as well as the sale of biomethane to EU countries," commented Valery Bezus, head of the State Energy Efficiency Agency.
Ministry of Energy noted that creation of the registry will enable the launch of the biomethane market. Manufacturers will be able to obtain admission to the gas transmission and gas distribution systems, and guarantees and certificates of origin will certify the raw materials it is made from and the volume submitted to the GTS. Access to the GTS will facilitate the transportation of biomethane to generating facilities, as well as provide a partial substitution of natural gas.
"The introduction of the biomethane registry is the first step to create a biomethane market, to which both domestic and foreign investors will have access. This market has significant potential for development: over the past 5 years, the number of biogas plants in Ukraine has tripled – from 21 to 60. "The production of biogas has increased from 45 million cubic meters to 267 million cubic meters, of which the potential of biomethane is 160 million cubic meters," Energy Minister Herman Galushchenko emphasized.
State Energy Efficiency must ensure the creation and operation of the register within a 6-month period.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that National Commission for State Regulation in the spheres of energy and utilities approved changes to the Codes of gas transportation and gas distribution systems, which will allow the supply of biomethane in the network.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, for the first time in Ukraine, the Hals Agro biomethane production plant in Chernihiv Oblast joined gas distribution networks.
