On May 29, 2024, OTE, a.s., (hereafter also the market operator, OTE) became the 5th member of the Gas Scheme Group (GSG), within "Association of Issuing Bodies" (AIB), the European Association of issuers of Guarantees of origin. This membership will enable the market operator to make available to traders the possibility of international transfer of biomethane guarantees of origin within the framework of the AIB, which will thus suitably complement the already ongoing international transfer of electricity guarantees of origin.

At the May meeting of the AIB (www.aib-net.org) in Riga/Latvia, OTE, as the issuer of guarantees of origin in the Czech Republic, became another member of the group for guarantees of origin in the gas industry. After the completion of all necessary processes and technical tests in the IT system of the market operator during June, the international transfer of biomethane guarantees of origin issued according to the rules and standards of the European Energy Certificate System (EECS) with other Gas Scheme Group members over the AIB hub will be enabled thanks to this membership. To date, GSG members within the AIB association are issuing entities in Austria, Spain, Latvia and Finland. The involvement of other countries in the GSG is being prepared.

The expansion of options for export/import of guarantees of origin for electricity to export/import of guarantees of origin for biomethane is made possible thanks to OTE's international activities in the area of guarantees of origin, especially thanks to OTE's membership in the AIB association. By engaging in cooperation in the framework of transfer of guarantees of origin for electricity and biomethane, OTE responds to the needs of traders to ensure not only domestic but also international transfer of these guarantees of origin, and thus fulfills the objectives set by Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in the area of guarantees of origin. Currently, 30 EU and non-EU countries are associated with the AIB association.

"We are proud to have been a member of the AIB association for many years, and now, as part of this association, we have expanded our activities in the field of guarantees of origin for biomethane to include the possibility of international transfers. It is the result of long-term full-fledged cooperation of our company within the framework of international projects and activities and the maximum work commitment of Martina Gabriel and her team", says Michal Puchel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OTE, a.s.

Bc. Martina Gabriel has been working at OTE since 2019, in 2023 she was appointed Head of the Department of Guarantees of Origin and Clean Mobility. In January The Market Operator Joined the Process of International Transfer of Biomethane Guarantees of Origin Within the Association of Issuing Bodies

In 2024, she was elected Chair of the ESG (Electricity Scheme Group) working group in the AIB association.

The AIB has been developing, using and further disseminating standards for working with guarantees of origin for electricity and gas for a long time since 2002, in particular, has been using and further developing the rules for working with guarantees of origin, the so-called European Energy Certificate System (EECS). These standards ensure the reliable functioning of international schemes of certificates of origin of energy and their international exchange, with an emphasis on the criteria of objectivity, non-discrimination, transparency and cost-effectiveness.