The European Guarantees of Origin market has reached another important milestone. With the recent connection of the Netherlands to the AIB Hub for gas Guarantees of Origin (GOs), Dutch biomethane and renewable hydrogen certificates can now be traded across borders through the same system already established for electricity. VertiCer, the Dutch issuing body, has long been a pioneer in certification, and its new role within the AIB Hub expands the opportunities for transparent and harmonised trade in renewable gases.
This connection strengthens the position of the AIB Hub as the central European platform for GOs. In practice, it means that market participants in the Netherlands can now transfer their gas certificates directly to trading partners abroad, eliminating the need for ex-domain cancellation statements and other workarounds that have often complicated the market in the past. For suppliers and traders, this is not only an administrative simplification but also a sign that the European market for renewable gases is entering a more mature and liquid phase.
A Growing Network of Cross-Border Trade
A Growing Network of Cross-Border Trade. As of today, nine countries are connected for gas GOs (biomethane / hydrogen):
-
-
Austria – E-Control
-
Belgium (Brussels Region) – BRUGEL
-
Czech Republic – OTE
-
Finland – Gasgrid Finland
-
Italy – GSE
-
Latvia – Conexus
-
Netherlands – VertiCer
-
Portugal – REN
-
Spain – Enagás GTS
-
Switzerland, through its issuing body Pronovo, is expected to join soon, having already launched a GO system for gaseous and liquid combustibles earlier this year. Once connected, it will further expand the range of trading partners and strengthen the integration of national registries into a single European marketplace.
This expansion is significant for both biomethane and renewable hydrogen, as the EECS Gas GO Scheme directly implements Article 19 of the Renewable Energy Directive. It allows Guarantees of Origin for gaseous energy carriers to move between countries in a harmonised format, with the option to include additional sustainability or greenhouse gas information. Such harmonisation is essential for disclosure to consumers, for corporate reporting, and ultimately for building trust in renewable gas markets.
The other rail still running: ERGaR CoO
Alongside AIB, the ERGaR Certificates of Origin (CoO) Scheme continues to facilitate biomethane tracking between national registries—~3 TWh were transferred in 2024, with cumulative cross-border transfers exceeding 7 TWh by mid-2025. Germany remains the dominant sink for these certificates, with Denmark, the UK, and the Netherlands among key exporters.
Market Signals and Policy Shifts in Renewable Gas Certificates
The impact of gas Guarantees of Origin on European energy markets is already becoming visible. In Finland, imports of biogas GOs rose by an impressive 86% in 2024, a clear sign of how rapidly natural gas is being substituted by biomethane as domestic production struggles to keep pace with demand. In Lithuania, the transmission system operator Amber Grid phased out the acceptance of ex-domain cancellation statements from the Netherlands’ VertiCer in June 2025. This move underscores a broader transition: market participants are expected to rely increasingly on direct Hub-based transfers, whether through the AIB system or the parallel ERGaR scheme, rather than on bilateral workarounds.
Towards a Harmonised Framework
At the policy level, the European Union is reinforcing the foundations of the disclosure system for renewable gases. Through the REGADISS project, the Commission is developing methodologies for residual mixes and supplier disclosure, ensuring that Guarantees of Origin reliably inform both supplier portfolios and consumer claims. A recent Commission report confirmed the growing number of registries offering gas certification and their active connections to the AIB Hub, demonstrating the system’s expanding reach.
For market participants, these developments translate into fewer frictions and greater liquidity. With the Netherlands now live on the AIB Hub, Dutch biomethane and hydrogen GOs can circulate as smoothly as electricity certificates. The reliance on ex-domain transfers is diminishing, and although both the AIB and ERGaR channels continue to coexist, the long-term trend points towards progressive consolidation under the AIB Hub as more registries connect and disclosure rules align at the EU level.
