Important information about Guarantees of Origin

Pursuant to Sections 44, 45 and 45a of Act No. 165/2012 Coll., on Supported Energy Sources, and Decree No. 328/2022 Coll., on Guarantees of Origin of Energy, the market operator issues guarantees of origin on the basis of an application submitted by an energy producer.

For this purpose, the market operator operates the Registry of Guarantees of Origin, known as EZP. EZP is an information system in which guarantees of origin are recorded in the accounts of their holders throughout their entire life cycle, i.e. from issuance to cancellation.

A guarantee of origin can be issued for electricity, biomethane, hydrogen or heat.

A guarantee of origin for electricity is issued for the amount of electricity produced by an electricity producer in the Czech Republic and delivered to the transmission or distribution system of the Czech Republic during one calendar month.

A guarantee of origin for biomethane is issued for the amount of biomethane produced by a biomethane producer in the Czech Republic and delivered to the transmission or distribution system of the Czech Republic during one calendar month.

A guarantee of origin for heat is issued for the amount of heat produced in the Czech Republic by a heat producer or by a heat producer from a nuclear facility and delivered to the heat distribution facility of a district heating system, or delivered directly to a customer from a heat production plant, during one calendar month.

A guarantee of origin for hydrogen is issued for the amount of hydrogen produced by a hydrogen producer in the Czech Republic and delivered to the transmission or distribution system of the Czech Republic, or to a filling station or dispensing unit, during one calendar month.

The market operator issues a guarantee of origin on the basis of measured or calculated values of the amount of electricity, biomethane, hydrogen or heat produced, as submitted by the producer in accordance with the implementing legislation.

Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are issued:

·         for the amount of energy produced and delivered to the grid or system (1 GO = 1 MWh of delivered electricity, biomethane, heat or hydrogen);

·         for at least 1 MWh and for a production period of one full calendar month;

·         with a validity period of one year from the end date of the energy production period for which they are issued. After this period expires, the GOs are automatically cancelled in EZP.

Guarantees of origin may be transferred between individual accounts within the Czech Republic or within the member states of the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB).

A guarantee of origin exists only in electronic form, as a serial number created in accordance with defined rules. Once a guarantee of origin has been cancelled for an end consumer, a PDF document entitled “Cancellation Statement” can be generated with OTE’s electronic seal. Guarantees of origin do not exist in any other “paper” form.

The prices charged by the market operator in relation to EZP for 2026 are set out in Price Regulation of the Energy Regulatory Office No. 11/2025 of 30 September 2025, available here https://eru.gov.cz/energeticky-regulacni-vestnik-112025.

If biomass fuels are used to produce electricity or heat in plants with a total rated thermal input of at least 20 MW in the case of solid biomass fuels and at least 2 MW in the case of gaseous biomass fuels, the fulfilment of sustainability criteria under the implementing legislation is a condition for issuing a guarantee of origin.

The fulfilment of sustainability criteria under the implementing legislation is a condition for issuing a guarantee of origin for biomethane. Guarantees of origin for biomethane are issued separately for advanced biomethane and other biomethane.

Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB)

Since 21 December 2016, the Registry of Guarantees of Origin (EZP) has been connected to the international AIB Hub operated by the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB). This connection enables EZP account holders to carry out international transactions, i.e. imports and exports of guarantees of origin, with other countries that are members of the AIB.