The I-REC Standard Foundation reaches agreement with new global consortium to develop tracking standards for biogas and biomethane :BiogasWorld

By BiogasWorld | 2023-05-23

Amsterdam (Netherlands), São Paulo (Brazil), Minneapolis (USA) and Sheffield (UK) — The I-REC Standard Foundation (“I-REC Standard”) is partnering with a new international consortium to develop a standardized tracking methodology for biomethane and biogas to support greater decarbonization through alternatives to natural gas. I-REC Standard and the new consortium (the “Consortium”) formed by Instituto Totum, M-RETS, and Evident have finalized a memorandum of understanding to develop a Product Code for biogas and biomethane (the “I-REC(G) Product Code”) that will adhere to the strict requirements of the I-REC Standard’s International Attribute Tracking Standard.

The goal of the I-REC(G) Product Code is to develop a standardized tracking methodology that is a fact-based and technology agnostic, which would serve as the basis for a certificate instrument for producing biogas and biomethane. This mechanism will support organizations’ claims for biogas or biomethane usage including that of low or net zero-carbon products.

“All Consortium members are knowledgeable partners with the right background and experience to develop a well-designed and easily implementable attribute tracking mechanism for biogas and biomethane,” said Jared Braslawsky, executive director of the I-REC Standard Foundation. “The increasing relevance of tracking environmental attributes in these markets has led consumers to look for mechanisms to support claims of renewable origin to the consumed gas.”

Both Instituto Totum and M-RETS manage biogas and biomethane certification programs in Brazil and the United States. However, adherence to the International Attribute Tracking Standard is critical to ensure a robust and reliable tracking methodology that is accepted globally.

“The I-REC Standard’s accreditation ensures that affiliated tracking products are of the highest quality and meet the most rigorous expectations of stakeholders, market parties, and end users,” said Fernando Lopes, director of Instituto Totum.

“We are setting the basis for the tracking system for biogas and biomethane to be developed and implemented internationally in consistency with the principles and best practices of attribute tracking systems the world over,” added Benjamin Gerber, CEO of M-RETS.

“The I-REC(G) Code will define standardisation of registration and issuance data and a centralised system will provide a fully auditable chain of custody record to support the trading of biogas and biomethane attribute certificates and uniquely verifiable claims of ownership by end-users,” Evident CEO Ed Everson said.

Biogas is a mixture of methane, CO2, and small quantities of other gases produced by anaerobic digestion. Biomethane is considered a renewable gas produced generally by removing non-methane portions of biogas. It can be used interchangeably with natural gas without the need for any changes in transmission and distribution infrastructure or end-user equipment and is fully compatible for use in natural gas vehicles. Together with other renewable fuels it is expected to play an important, if not a fundamental role, in the world’s transition toward a cleaner and more secure energy future.

For more information on the development of the I-REC(G) Product Code, stakeholders, and interested parties, the I-REC Standard Foundation can be reached via irecstandard.org or by emailing secretariat@irecstandard.org.

The Consortium members can be reached at: