The use of biomethane is subsidised by the government in a number of different ways, such as via the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) for electricity production, via the Renewable Heating Act (EEWärmeG) for heat production, or via the European emissions trading system (EU-ETS). In order to benefit from this, companies must verify the origin and a wide range of criteria regarding the nature of their biomethane. How this is done is entirely up to them. Up till the year 2010, there were neither uniform standards nor a joint procedure for companies and auditors to facilitate documentation. For trade partners such as institutions that recognise the use of biomethane, this led to uncertainty.
In order to make the complex requirements for the documentation of the trade and use of biomethane as easy as possible, dena developed the biogas register together with 14 leading companies from the biogas and biomethane industry. With its help, biomethane producers can verify the quantity and quality of biomethane in the natural gas network — from production to consumption. The information obtained in this manner can then in turn be used by intermediaries, final consumers, and public utilities for marketing and legally required documentation. The biogas register is regularly certified according to the prevailing quality and safety requirements. Auditors ensure the correctness of the information; and dena, in the role of the registrar, subsequently checks them for plausibility.
Since the biogas register went online in February 2011, it has received a warm welcome from all involved parties. With the register, it was possible to create an industry standard valid all over Germany. Trade partners and end consumers can rely on this, which increases their trust in biomethane producers and promotes the general development of the market. For companies and consumers, this makes it significantly easier to maintain the required verification, to satisfy statutory obligations, and to receive payment. Furthermore, the standardisation via the register ensures that the production and preparation of biomethane takes place in a high-quality manner.