Bonn, July 04, 2022: The Grünes Gas-Label has a new set of criteria since July 01, 2022. The new core criterion of the label is a mandatory support component with which energy providers invest in energy transition projects with every kilowatt hour sold. In this way, Grüner Strom Label e.V. is raising the profile of the Grünes Gas-Label and driving forward the expansion of renewable energies in all sectors.

"Political decisions and current developments on the energy markets are currently putting the biogas industry to the test. The Grünes Gas-Label looks to the future and contributes to the rapid expansion of renewable energies with the realignment of the criteria," says Dietmar Oeliger, Chairman of Grüner Strom Label e.V..

The proven support system of the Grüner Strom-Label is now also applied in the Grünes Gas-Label: With the mandatory support component, energy suppliers invest in energy transition projects per kilowatt-hour sold. In addition to the areas of electricity and heat, projects for mobility, energy infrastructure and energy efficiency can also be promoted. In this way, the biogas label of the environmental associations makes an active contribution to the expansion of renewable energies and promotes innovative energy transition projects.

In addition, the procurement criteria for biogas have been expanded: Biogenic residues and sewage sludge, e.g. biowaste or green waste, can now also be utilized from industrial processes or commercial production. In addition, any type of farm manure, e.g. liquid manure, is permitted.

"Utilizing the energetic potential of biogenic residual and waste materials of any kind reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases the climate protection effect," explains Christian Knops, head of Green Gas Certification at Grüner Strom Label e.V. "The Grünes Gas-Label has no influence on non-energy markets. However, it can thus help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in an effective way," Knops continues.

For the first time, the Grünes Gas-Label also enables the certification of synthetically produced green gases, such as green hydrogen. The Grüner Strom Label e.V. wants to cooperate with pioneers in this field to create an ecologically compatible as well as energy system-serving form of gas production.

In addition, the provider criteria in the new list of criteria have been tightened: after Dec. 31, 2026, no energy provider that carries, or wishes to carry, a Green Gas or Grüner Strom-Label certified tariff may be involved in coal-fired power plants. This also applies to parent companies and subsidiaries with more than 50 percent corporate ownership in or by the energy provider. The supporting associations of Grüner Strom Label e.V. are thus sending a clear signal that the phase-out of coal in Germany must take place significantly earlier than the politically set date of 2038.

Since the start of certification in 2014, the Grünes Gas-Label's catalog of criteria has now been adapted for the second time. The new criteria catalog and a brochure summarizing the most important points can be found at: www.gruenerstromlabel.de//gruenes-gas/kriterienkatalog/

Keywords

Biogas, green hydrogen, label, environmental associations, coal phase-out, procurement criteria, energy transition

About Grüner Strom Label e.V.

The Grüner Strom Label e.V. certifies green energy products. The association awards two seals of approval for this purpose: the Grüner Strom-Label for green electricity with added value and the Grünes Gas-Label for environmentally compatible biogas. The association is backed by non-profit environmental and consumer associations and peace organizations, including NABU, BUND, EUROSOLAR and the Verbraucher Initiative. Grüner Storm-Label and Grünes Gas-Label are the only seals of approval for green electricity and biogas in Germany that are supported and recommended by leading environmental associations. www.gruenerstromlabel.de