Herkunftsnachweise für Erneuerbare Energien jenseits des Stromsektors – Chancen und Herausforderungen

The amendment of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 extends the scope of guarantees of origin (GO) to renewable gases (including hydrogen) as well as heating and cooling, creating new possible verification paths. Of particular relevance for sector coupling is the design of guarantee of origin transitions when converting one form of energy to another (conversion). This paper provides a brief overview of current developments in the area of guarantees of origin and describes possible consequences and opportunities that may arise from the new requirements for the individual sectors. In addition, potential further development perspectives that go beyond the framework set by the Renewable Energy Directive are outlined. On the one hand, the complexity of a future sector-spanning GO-system creates new challenges for market and regulatory actors. On the other hand, there are far-reaching opportunities in the form of new differentiation and marketing possibilities for suppliers, new sources of income for renewable energy producers, and additional verification options for energy consumption in industry, mobility, and the building sector. GOs can thus play an important role as an instrument in the operational implementation of the energy transition.