Interest in certifying energy from low-emission sources grows in Czechia

Activity in the market for guarantees of origin for electricity, gas and heat in the Czech Republic rose again last year. The number of redeemed guarantees of origin reached 8.8 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 35%. The number of guarantees of origin issued rose by as much as 122%, to more than 13 million. The overwhelming majority (83%) of issued guarantees of origin related to electricity from nuclear power plants. This follows from statistics published by market operator OTE.

Guarantees of origin enable consumers to virtually assign the source of the electricity, gas or heat they consume, thereby making it "greener". For operators of energy facilities that have guarantees of origin issued and subsequently sell them, these certificates represent an additional source of revenue. One guarantee of origin corresponds to 1 MWh of energy supplied.

Interest in guarantees of origin in the Czech Republic has been growing in recent years. According to statistics published by market operator OTE, a.s., 13.1 million guarantees of origin were issued domestically in 2025 (+122%), while 8.8 million were redeemed (+35%). Cross-border trading in these certificates also grew strongly, with exports rising to 10.4 million (+45%) and imports to 7.5 million (+44%).

“Electricity from nuclear power clearly dominates issued guarantees of origin: 10,856,655 guarantees were issued, representing 84% of the total volume of guarantees of origin issued. The vast majority of these guarantees are destined for export, with nuclear accounting for 81% of the total exported volume,” OTE, a.s. stated.

Guarantees for renewable electricity mainly from abroad

The statistics also show that the decline in the number of guarantees of origin issued for electricity from renewable energy sources (RES) continued last year. For supported facilities, the drop was as much as 83%, to just under 127,000 guarantees.

“This situation was significantly contributed to by the administrative setting of fixed prices for guarantees of origin for electricity generated at facilities receiving investment or operating support. These prices were set above market price levels, which had a direct impact on the development of supply and trading in guarantees of origin,” the market operator explained.

As RES account for 88% of guarantees of origin redeemed by electricity consumers, this demand must largely be met through imports. Guarantees of origin for renewable electricity therefore accounted for 95% of total imports last year.

Second year of guarantees of origin for biomethane

Sharp growth was observed in guarantees of origin for biomethane last year. This was also because the first guarantees of origin for biomethane from plants registered in the Czech Republic were issued in 2024. One production plant newly registered in the guarantees of origin system last year, bringing the total to 11.
According to OTE statistics, the number of guarantees of origin issued for biomethane rose by 194% year on year, to just under 171,000. The number of guarantees of origin redeemed for biomethane then increased by 388%, to just under 119,000.

In heat, virtually all guarantees of origin issued related to heat from RES (apart from a single guarantee of origin for heat from nuclear power). The number of guarantees of origin issued for heat rose by 199% year on year, to 50,123. The number of guarantees of origin redeemed for heat was similar, at 50,822 (a year-on-year increase of 28%).

“The guarantees of origin sector has the potential for further development: guarantees of origin for electricity generated from nuclear power have gained importance, while changes are also taking place in biomethane and heat. We are preparing to further expand our activities in this area and plan to introduce new products. These include, for example, the introduction of auctions for guarantees of origin,” added Michal Puchel, chairman of the board of directors of OTE.