Q&A: French state auction for biomethane RGGOs

Spanish Market: Electricity, Natural gas
06/11/24

France's first auction for state-owned biomethane renewable gas guarantees of origin (RGGOs) is due to take place on 4 December. It will be run by European Energy Exchange (EEX), which also manages the French biogas registry. Argus spoke to Aude Filippi, director of business development gas and sustainability markets at EEX, about biomethane RGGOs in France and the new auctions. Edited highlights follow:

How are RGGOs currently traded in France?

All RGGOs for biomethane injected into the French gas grid are currently exchanged via the over-the-counter (OTC) market, and the transfer of ownership is done via the French biogas registry. The RGGOs are tradeable for 12 months and usable for 18 months, and are issued in monthly intervals.

The market has been growing quite significantly. Between January and September 2024, 8.5TWh of RGGOs were issued and 7.2TWh cancelled, while in 2023 there were 9.6TWh issued. Almost all of the issued RGGOs are cancelled, with very few expiring after 18 months.

Why are the biomethane RGGO auctions being launched now?

The French state owns all the RGGOs from biomethane produced from subsidised plants where the contract was signed after 9 November 2020, and now the French state wants to sell them.

Even though the contracts were signed in 2020, it takes time to put biomethane into production, so very few of the RGGOs have expired so far. But the volume being produced is growing so it is important that we now have the auctions.

What size volumes are you expecting to be in the new biomethane GOO auctions?

We expect over 80,000MWh in the first upcoming auction, with volumes likely to increase in the following sessions.

What buyers are you expecting to participate in the auctions?

Essentially it will be the members of the French biogas registry that we have connected today. And some members connected to the French power GOO auctions at EEX might participate, so we expect that it will be a similar target group, but for gas.

Will buyers be able to export the biomethane GOOs for use in other countries?

Today we are not yet connected to a hub for the international trade of RGGOs. At the moment, we are working with the hubs to get connected.

Why do the auctions have a mechanism for certain buyers to reserve volumes in the auction?

The idea is that the operator of a production device will have the ability to buy the RGGOs produced from this particular device from the French state. They are then committing for one year at least to buy these RGGOs at the auction price plus a 30pc premium.

By Emma Tribe

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21/11/24

Cop: EU, four countries commit to 1.5°C climate plans

Baku, 21 November (Argus) — The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have committed to submit new national climate plans setting out "steep emission cuts", that are consistent with the global 1.5°C temperature increase limit sought by the Paris Agreement. The EU and four countries made the pledge at the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan today, and called on other nations to follow suit — particularly major economies. Countries are due to submit new climate plans — known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) — covering 2035 goals to the UN climate body the UNFCCC by early next year. The EU, Canada, Mexico, Norway and Switzerland have not yet submitted their plans, but they will be aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said today. The Paris climate agreement seeks to limit the global rise in temperature to "well below" 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C. Canada's NDC is being considered by the country's cabinet and will be submitted by the 10 February deadline, Canadian ambassador for climate change Catherine Stewart said today. Switzerland's new NDC will also be submitted by the deadline, the country's representative confirmed. Pamana's special representative for climate change Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez also joined the press conference today. Panama, which is designated as carbon negative, submitted an updated NDC in June. It is planning to submit a nature pledge, Monterrey Gomez said. "It is time to streamline processes to get to real action", he added. The UK also backed the pledge. The UK announced an ambitious emissions reduction target last week. The UAE — which hosted Cop 28 last year — released a new NDC just ahead of Cop 29, while Brazil, host of next year's Cop 30, released its new NDC on 13 November during the summit. Thailand yesterday at Cop 29 communicated a new emissions reduction target . Indonesia last week said that it intends to submit its updated NDC ahead of the February deadline, with a plan placing a ceiling on emissions and covering all greenhouse gases as well as including the oil and gas sector. Colombia also indicated that its new climate plan will seek to address fossil fuels, but it will submit its NDC by June next year . By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: Australia backs no new coal power call: Correction

20/11/24

Cop: Australia backs no new coal power call: Correction

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China to quit coal baseload power by 2050: Think tank

20/11/24

China to quit coal baseload power by 2050: Think tank

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UK launches global clean power group at G20

19/11/24

UK launches global clean power group at G20

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LNG diversions to Europe reach double digits

19/11/24

LNG diversions to Europe reach double digits

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