Avoiding double counting: GoO, Proof of sustainability and Union Database

As we transition to a greener energy future, it is crucial to have robust certification schemes in place to ensure that hydrogen production meets the criteria for being classified as renewable.

The European Union’s regulations are currently the most stringent worldwide. To be recognised as renewable, hydrogen must be produced using renewable energy and comply with sustainability requirements such as additionality of renewable energy sources as well as temporal and geographical correlation criteria.

There are two main types of certificates: Guarantees of Origin (GoO), which certify that the energy used is renewable, and proof of sustainability, which ensure compliance with the environmental and sustainability standards set out in the RED II Directive (currently under review).

The risk of double counting arises when the same production or installation is certified by both systems, but GoOs and proof of sustainability are traded separately.

Launched in 2024, the Union Database (UDB) is designed to address the issue of double counting by providing a centralised platform that tracks and verifies renewable gases, including both Guarantees of Origin and proof of sustainability.