The Albanese Government is forging ahead with its commitment to a Future Made in Australia by starting consultation on the new certificate scheme that will authenticate renewable electricity and low-emission products.
The Guarantee of Origin (GO) will certify Australian low-emissions products and spur investment in clean energy industries. It will help show how a product was made and the emissions throughout its lifecycle.
These high-integrity certificates will help decarbonise the Australian economy by encouraging sellers to reduce carbon intensity. Increasing transparency for consumers will give participating sellers a competitive advantage in the Australian and international markets.
For renewable hydrogen, which will be the first product included, the GO scheme is also the basis on which claims will be made for the new Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive.
Other products, such as green metals, low carbon liquid fuels, and renewable energy-generated electricity will also gain a pathway to green verification, helping those businesses reach world markets that value cleaner products.
Consultation on the exposure draft of the first set of supporting laws covers rules regarding:
• registration for the scheme
• registration of scheme profiles
• certification of products
• registration of renewable electricity generation facilities.
With the GO Scheme, businesses will be able to register for the scheme and produce two types of digital certificates: Product GO (PGO) and Renewable Electricity GO (REGO).
PGO certificates will allow producers, exporters, and consumers to prove where a product is made, and the emissions associated with its production, transport, and storage.
REGO certificates will provide information on when, where, and how renewable electricity is produced, allowing users to make verifiable claims to renewable electricity use. REGO certificates will replace certification under the Renewable Energy Target from 1 January 2031.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Wilson
"The Albanese Government is backing Australia's emerging green industries through the $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia agenda and the establishment of the Guarantee of Origin Scheme.
"The GO Scheme is about building Australia's future as a renewable energy superpower. It will generate jobs in green industries and keep us on track for achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
"It will provide accountability for new products like green hydrogen and low-carbon liquid fuels.
"We have released the first exposure draft of the supporting rules today to give industry groups, businesses and renewable energy producers the opportunity to help shape these laws and ensure they work well for everyone.
"Hopelessly stymied by the climate deniers in its ranks, the Coalition voted against the GO Scheme after failing in government to deliver the scheme industry needed. That neglect has held back Australia's emerging renewable energy and green manufacturing sectors for too long.
"We are cleaning up the mess left after a wasted decade of climate change inaction created by Peter Dutton's Coalition. Now, their only plan now is to slug Australian taxpayers $600 billion for a fact-free nuclear scheme that will destroy the budget, make our energy future hostage to other countries, and release two billion-tonnes of additional carbon pollution."
