Rules
With the amendment of the Green Power Act (ÖSG 2012) and its entry into force on 01/07/2012, the Austrian federal legislator has revised the framework conditions for the use of biomethane for electricity and heat production in Austria.
In addition to on-site electricity generation from biomethane, the upgrading of biomethane to natural gas quality and feed-in into the natural gas grid for the purpose of electrification after gas grid transport, has explicitly been made possible.
A prerequisite for eligibility for the renewable power subsidy for biomethane is to proof the origin and quality of the used biomethane. The Austrian Green Power Settlement Agency (OeMAG Abwicklungsstelle für Ökostrom AG) requires biomethane certificates issued by the balancing group coordinator and audited by an authorised expert as prerequisite for subsidies.
The Biomethan Register Austria was consequently established by the balancing group coordinator and issues certificates as proof for the respective energy amounts, quality and origin of the biomethane injected into the natural gas grid. The cancellation of a biomethane certificate proofs the existence of the cancelled certificate in the registry database and proofs that the respective biomethane consirnment has been consumed and cannot further be used. It contains all relevant information to describe the biomethane product. A cancellation statement for a biomethane certificate can be provided in paper form by the registry operator at any time upon request by market participants.
To ensure an efficient, reliable and trustworthy documentation and tracking of biomethane and to enable an Austrian-wide trade of biomethane, a documentation process accepted by the market actors is necessary. The transparent mapping and secure handling of ownership transfers are enabled by the Biomethan Register Austria.
Details on the registry system and the corresponding biomethane certificates as well as the underlying settlement processes are part of the regulations and contracts.
The legal framework for the injection of biomethane, the decentralised use of the same and the documentation by written proofs (biomethane certificates), is formed by European and national legislation. Links to the relevant pieces of legislation are provided in the following.