Companies that deliver gaseous fuels to the Dutch transport sector can register these deliveries in their account in the Energy for Transport Registry. In return, they will be awarded renewable energy units (HBEs). Which type of HBE is determined by the type of feedstock used.
Please note: from 2022, the option to green compressed natural gas (CNG) will be expanded to include deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG), provided these deliveries meet specific requirements. These requirements are explained here.
Guarantees of Origin
HBEs are only created if a delivery of CNG (from the gas grid) or a delivery of biogas (via a direct connection) is covered by Guarantees of Origin (GOs), i.e. Vertogas certificates. These GOs demonstrate that a certain amount of green gas has been fed into the gas network or direct connection. Prior to the registration of a delivery in the REV, a sufficient number of GOs must be transferred to the NEa account in the Vertogas registry.
Conditions for registering
The sustainability of the biogas is safeguarded because the production installation must be certified in accordance with an accredited European voluntary scheme. The gas is eligible for registration if the chain emissions are at least 60% less than the reference value of 94 g CO2/MJ for fossil fuels. This threshold rises to a minimum of 65% for installations that became operational on or after 1 January 2021.
When registering gaseous biofuel, GOs (in the form of Vertogas certificates) constitute the proof of sustainability. The correct Guarantees of Origin allow registering companies to demonstrate that the location at which gas production took place was certified under a recognised voluntary scheme. The Guarantees of Origin list the sustainability characteristics, including chain emissions. When registering a delivery, companies must fill in the sustainability characteristics shown on the GOs of the green gas produced.
See Sustainability of biofuels.
If SDE+ subsidy (subsidy for sustainable energy production) was received in relation to the gas fed into the grid, this delivery cannot be included in a registering. Any subsidy granted will be listed on the Guarantee of Origin.
Companies can only register deliveries of gaseous fuels, delivered to the transport market, through connections on the gas network exclusively designated for that purpose. However, there is an exemption. If there is no connection exclusively designated for the transport market, the metered delivery point must meet additional requirements, and must have an MID certificate of compliance. This relates to the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID), which in the Netherlands has been implemented in the Metrology Act (Metrologiewet).
Direct connections
Deliveries made via a direct connection, meaning a connection from the production facility to a charging point for transport not connected to the grid, can also be registered. Companies can then register the amount of gaseous fuel (kg) as measured by one or more metered delivery points.
Double-counting
Gaseous biofuels may be double-counted, resulting in a double amount of HBEs being credited after a delivery is registered. The double-counting nature must be demonstrated by a double-counting certificate.
See Feedstocks and double-counting.
For NTA 8003 codes of feedstocks listed on GOs, there is an overview of the type of HBE that is created as a result of a registration in the REV and the eligibility for double-counting.
See Overview of HBE types for NTA 8003 codes (Dutch).
HBEs for greened share of a delivery
After the registration of a delivery of gas to the transport sector via the gas grid or a direct connection, HBEs will be awarded, provided that delivery has been greened by Guarantees of Origin and the CNG delivered equals or exceeds the GO applied (gross quantity of gas). This is based on CNG having an energy content of 42.20 MJ per kg.
The number of HBEs will be determined based on the energy content shown on GO, according to the following formula:
| HBE amount = GO size (MWh) x (3600/35.17) x (31.65/1,000) x 2 (when double-counting) |