The Netherlands has become the first country in Europe to issue green hydrogen guarantee of origin (GOO) certificates, Dutch exchange platform Hyxchange says.

The certificates were registered by Vertogas, a subsidiary of Dutch state-owned gas company Gasunie, and used in a pilot project carried out this month by Hyxchange—a joint venture between Gasunie, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Port of Amsterdam, Groningen Seaports and North Sea Port. Eighteen companies took part in the trials.

“Hyxchange aims to rapidly expand certificate and hydrogen trading, and to facilitate trade between European countries and hydrogen imports from countries outside the EU,” the exchange says.

18 – Participants in Hyxchange pilot project

“Hyxchange calls for speedy regulation to certify hydrogen imports from other countries, [which is] important for our climate goals while also reducing the amount of natural gas we need,” it adds.

A standard contract for Dutch GOO trading is under development with European energy traders, the exchange says. Dutch GOOs registered by Vertogas can be converted into renewable fuel units.

GOO schemes are widely used in renewable power markets and are expected to form the basis for trade in certifiable low-carbon hydrogen at a European level and internationally.

The EU Renewable Energy Directive includes a provision that GOOs in already in place for renewable electricity should be extended to cover renewable gases.

And the EU’s hydrogen strategy says GOOs can facilitate the most cost-effective EU-wide trading in hydrogen. The UK and Australia are among the other countries working towards the development of hydrogen GOO markets.

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Author: Stuart Penson