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Crediting of imported biomethane

Possible uses for imported biomethane

The following document provides a clear overview of where imported biomethane can be recognized and used in Germany. A distinction is made between mass balance deliveries and the import of certificates according to the book&claim principle. For better comparability, the possible uses for biomethane fed into the grid in Germany are also compared. A detailed explanation of the individual legal requirements can be found in the second part of the document.

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE | Challenges in accounting for imported biomethane in various sectors

Domestic demand for biomethane exceeds current production capacities, meaning that more and more biomethane is being imported from other European countries.

 

However, there are legal uncertainties regarding the use of imported biomethane in all application sectors. On the one hand, double marketing via state verification databases cannot be ruled out with certainty due to a lack of legal requirements and, on the other hand, the offsetting of subsidized biomethane quantities against national targets has not been clearly clarified.

In order to establish liquid European trade in biomethane via the natural gas grid and to be able to offset it in the transport, electricity and heating sectors, the import of biomethane must be made more legally secure and regulations must be standardized. In addition to the existing certification and mass balancing requirements, corresponding declarations should be included in the verification documentation in future. These relate to the following key points:  

  • official declaration from the country of origin on repayment of state production or feed-in tariffs received or official declaration that no production or feed-in tariffs have been paid out
  • official declaration on the exclusion of crediting of the biogenic (“green”) property in the country of production
  • Declaration of compliance with the ban on double marketing

The documentation of the aforementioned requirements can also be carried out via the established verification databases.