In this webinar from the Digital Traders Summit, the host Jens Hartmann, CEO of enmacc, and Pal Habsburg-Lothringen from Granular Energy discuss the evolving demand for Guarantees of Origin (GOs) in Germany, highlighting the increasing significance of different GO qualities in the country.

In 2023, approximately 185 TWh worth of GOs were cancelled in Germany, representing around 40% of the nation’s total electricity consumption. However, due to local regulations, such as the Doppelvermarktungsverbot, which significantly restricts the issuance of GOs from domestic energy assets, a considerable proportion of the cancelled GOs originated from imports. In fact, the volume of imported GOs exceeds that of those cancelled. Moreover, with much of this supply coming from older hydropower assets, critics argue that the additionality of the supply in question is limited.

As the market matures and customer awareness increases, energy buyers in Germany are placing a growing emphasis on purchasing electricity with higher quality GOs. These buyers seek attributes such as local generation, energy produced from newer assets, or GOs that include additional certifications. For suppliers and GO traders, this trend introduces greater complexity in meeting diverse customer preferences, yet simultaneously represents a substantial market opportunity.

Sustainability led energy buyers are willing to pay a premium for greater transparency in their energy procurement. In some cases, organizations are prepared to pay more than €1 per MWh to receive detailed knowledge of the source of their renewable energy. Additionally, these buyers are open to paying higher prices for GOs associated with higher-quality energy, which in turn can leads to further investment in local renewable energy generation to meet rising demand.

Whether you're an industry expert or a curious listener, this webinar offers an insight on how the GO system works and how it will change in the coming years.