Businesses Can Count Green Gas Towards Emissions Reporting

Companies are now allowed to include green gas energy towards their gas emissions reporting, which the Renewable Energy Association (REA) describes as a “major breakthrough”.

These changes to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) means that businesses can now report very low greenhouse gas emissions for gas combusted on their site through methods such as anaerobic digestion.

Greenhouse Gas Certificates will now be recognised by the GHG as an eligible source for reporting the business’ carbon impact. They track the use of grid-injected biomethane, which is growing in popularity as a source of energy among suppliers.

Virginia Graham, who is in charge of the Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS), said: “We are now clear that these organisations can use Green Gas Certificates from our scheme as part of their corporate reporting.”

She added that GGCS “will continue to support the biomethane to grid sector”, while also searching for new opportunities for renewable energy, including the supply of biopropane, syngas and renewable power to hydrogen projects.

These changes mean that companies, including huge businesses like supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, can include their Green Gas Certificates as part of their carbon reporting.

This news could help the UK achieve its green heat targets by 2020, after leading experts have cast their doubts over whether Britain will meet these goals.

According to Philip Sellwood, the chief executive officer of the Energy Saving Trust, there is a lack of awareness from the public regarding low carbon heat technology, with only 12 per cent of people knowing about products like commercial heat pumps.