CRU publishes decision paper on supervisory framework for renewable gas guarantees of origin

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published its decision paper establishing the Supervisory Framework for Guarantees of Origin for Renewable Gas (gGOs) in Ireland (CRU202615) (the Decision) on 24 March 2026, which marks a significant milestone for development of the renewable gas market in Ireland.

Background

The CRU is required to establish a Supervisory Framework for Guarantees of Origin for gas from renewable sources, under Regulation 25(2) of Statutory Instrument No. 350 of 2022 (the Statutory Instrument). The Statutory Instrument also appointed Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), the gas network operator in Ireland, as the Issuing Body for gGOs in Ireland. The Decision follows a six-week consultation which took place in Q2 of 2025, with feedback received from stakeholders across Ireland, including gas producers, suppliers, consumer groups, and industry representatives.

What is a guarantee of origin (GGOS)?

A guarantee of origin for gas is ‘a guarantee of origin that relates to gas produced from renewable sources, including hydrogen produced from renewable sources’, as defined in the Statutory Instrument. gGO certificates will be issued independent of the physical delivery of renewable gas and can be traded and exported to and imported from EU Member States. 

Key decisions

The following are the highlights from the Decision: 

1. Registry accounts: Producers, traders and suppliers will be able to hold accounts in the electronic registry which will be maintained by GNI (the Registry) once established.
2. Issuance, transfer and cancellation: All account holders will be able to transfer gGOs but issuance of gGOs will be limited to producers and cancellation of gGOs will be restricted to suppliers only. 
3. Minimum information requirements: Sustainability certification will be required prior to the issuance of a gGO. The Decision confirms that the EU Voluntary Certification Schemes (i.e. schemes which certify that biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels, renewable hydrogen and its derivatives (renewable fuels of non-biological origin) and recycled carbon fuels are sustainably produced in compliance with EU sustainability criteria) will be used to support this requirement to certify the renewable attributes of the gas. Sustainability certification will also apply to imported gGOs once the Internal Gas Market Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1788) has been transposed into Irish law.
4. Issuance period: gGOs will be issued by GNI on a monthly basis.
5. Financial and reporting arrangements: There will be (1) an annual fee of €2,000 for producers and (2) an annual fee of €3,000 for suppliers and traders. These charges will be payable on first registration and then annually from that point (subject to review by GNI).
6. Trading with the UK: The Supervisory Framework will not allow trading of gGOs with the UK, in accordance with current legal arrangements between the UK and EU which do not provide for trading of gGOs with the UK.
7. Grid injected gas only: The Supervisory Framework will not apply to non-grid injected gas.
8. Alignment with electricity guarantees of origins: The CRU is considering alignment of the Fuel Mix Disclosure and Green Source Product Verification processes for renewable gas with that which is used for electricity. This will be consulted on in due course

Next steps

GNI will establish the Registry and enable the issuance of gGOs, in accordance with the Supervisory Framework and it is intended that they will commence issuing gGOs by January 2027 at the latest.

While GNI is currently providing Certificates of Origin as an interim measure, this process will be wound down in the coming months, with no new certificates of origin to be issued after 31 December 2026, paving the way for the Registry and issuance of gGOs.

The exclusion of non-grid injected gas and the restriction on trade of gGOs with the UK present limitations, which are not currently within the CRU’s remit to amend. In relation to the exclusion of non-grid injected gas, it is worth noting that the National Biomethane Strategy includes an action to develop a certification process for the end use of non-grid injected biomethane but the Statutory Instrument currently only provides for grid-injected gas and legislative amendment would be needed to expand the Supervisory Framework to non-grid injected gas.The inclusion of trade with the UK may be revisited in the future if the EU enters a legal framework with the UK to import UK Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin from the UK and export gGOs from Ireland.

The Supervisory Framework may require further updates as pending legislation is implemented/transposed, including RED III (Directive (EU) 2023/2413) and the Internal Gas Market Directive.

Conclusion

The publication of this Decision marks an important milestone in the development of Ireland's renewable gas market. The biomethane industry is growing and this Supervisory Framework establishes clear requirements and limitations for gGOs in Ireland and provides clarity in key areas for producers, suppliers and traders in the renewable gas market.

The Supervisory Framework must also be viewed in the context of Ireland's broader renewable gas ambitions. The National Biomethane Strategy targets the delivery of up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030 and requires development of an anaerobic digestion industry at scale. The gGO Supervisory Framework provides a critical piece of the regulatory infrastructure needed to underpin these ambitions, by creating a transparent and harmonised certification system that can interface with EU-wide markets.

For more information, please contact Aisling O’Donoghue, partner, Amanda Kane, Solicitor, or a member of the Energy, Infrastructure & Natural Resources team.

Date published: 22 April 2026