CoO Scheme

The ERGaR CoO Scheme facilitates the cross-border title transfer (ownership transfer) of Certificates of Origin (CoO) between participating national renewable gas/biomethane registries. It is operated by the European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR) aisbl. CoO is an umbrella term for both Guarantees of Origin and national biomethane certificates (more information on these certificates here).

The Scheme provides harmonised rules on the issuance of CoOs and a protocol on the business processes for ownership transfer of CoOs from one country to another. Moreover, ERGaR provides the IT infrastructure for these transfers via its own platform. Even though the scope of the scheme includes all renewable gases, only biomethane certificates are currently transferred.

Why an ERGaR CoO scheme?

All EU Member States must appoint an Issuing Body to set-up a Guarantee of Origin (GO) registry according to the Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2010). While most EU Member States have an operational GO registry, not all GO registries are operational yet. Additionally, there are other national renewable gas registries that issue other certificates for other purposes such as national quotas.

To send a certificate from one registry to another it is easier to make use of one centralised scheme. This avoids the need to set-up bilateral processes between all registries separately. The ERGaR CoO makes it easier for national registries to transfer certificates and reduces risks of double counting.

Who can join the scheme?

The scheme is designed for all renewable gas certificate registries, both national registries and GO registries with a government mandate. As part of the scheme rules registries can decide from which registries to receive certificates.

By participating in the Scheme, a national biomethane registry can offer its account holders access to a wider market. Producers, traders and other account holders cannot join the scheme, and it only works at the background for these account holders.

System Participants

Each registry that is connected to the ERGaR CoO scheme is called a System Participant. The following national registries are approved as System Participants:

Scheme Rules

The ERGaR CoO Scheme Rules describe the functions of the Scheme and how it operates, including provisions for how the rules can be updated as needed. The Participation Agreement gives the parties a legal basis for the Scheme’s operation and covers topics such as liability, fee payment and confidentiality. The agreement obliges the national registry to follow the Scheme Rules.

Guarantees of Origin and other Certificates of Origin

The ERGaR CoO is an electronic document that records information about renewable gas certificates in a harmonised manner, while still respecting the individual requirements of different national registries. However, CoOs are defined in accordance with Article 19 of Directive EU 2018/2001 for the issuance of renewable gas GOs. ERGaR is closely following the ongoing revision of the CEN-EN 16325 standard for gas GOs and is committed to ensuring that the ERGaR CoO Scheme is fully compliant as soon as the revised standard is finalised.

Considering that not all System Participants may be mandated as competent body, some CoOs may have the status of a GO according to Article 19 RED II while others may not.

CoOs are primarily designed to meet the demand of consumers for disclosing their use of renewable gas which, depending on the countries and the reporting methodology, may receive various benefits. These benefits are largely related to corporate emissions reporting and statutory uses. In this regard a CoO may also include additional information, for example information of greenhouse gas emission intensity or a Proof of Sustainability issued by a recognised voluntary scheme.

IT – and Communication Interface

National registries, as System Participants of the ERGaR CoO Scheme, will receive an account in the Cert-X Europe Platform, the IT-solution enabling the CoO ownership transfers. They will need to implement the necessary processes for sending and receiving data packages, in the form of XML files, to and from other System Participants via their account. API connection is also possible.

Registration Procedure and Applications Forms 

ERGaR provides national registries who want to become System Participants with the User Manual and the Application Form on the registration procedure. The application procedure includes three steps:

  1. Assessment of the compliance with ERGaR CoO Scheme Rules;
  2. Interface tests within the Cert-X Europe test environment;
  3. Decision on the approval of the application by the ERGaR Executive Board.

Please contact us for further information and support. You may request the application forms from the ERGaR secretariat.

Scroll to Top