Certifying clean energy: how GO will shape the next phase of Australian exports
The Australian Government has launched the Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme, a national certification system that tracks and verifies the emissions of products and renewable electricity, aiming to strengthen confidence in low-carbon Australian goods and support access to emerging clean energy markets.
Australia’s new Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme is now in effect, creating a national framework to certify emissions from key products such as hydrogen and green metals, and to verify renewable electricity generation. The voluntary scheme, administered by the Clean Energy Regulator, is designed to help Australian producers and exporters prove the low-emissions credentials of their products in a world that is moving quickly toward decarbonisation.
Certifying low-emissions production
Under the GO scheme, two types of digital certificates can be issued: Product Guarantee of Origin (PGO) and Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin (REGO).
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PGO certificates record the emissions intensity and other attributes of products across their full lifecycle — including production, transport and storage — starting with hydrogen made through electrolysis. Over time, this will expand to include green metals, biomethane, and low-carbon liquid fuels.
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REGO certificates verify when, where and how renewable electricity is generated. They allow companies to make credible claims about renewable electricity use in their operations or supply chains.
REGO will operate alongside the existing Renewable Energy Target for the next five years, offering continuity for investors and renewable generators as the older framework winds down by 2030.
Supporting Australia’s clean industry growth
The GO scheme links directly to several Future Made in Australia initiatives, including the $4 billion Hydrogen HeadStart program, the $6.7 billion Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, and the $2 billion Green Aluminium Production Credit. These programs aim to grow local manufacturing and position Australia as a reliable supplier of certified low-emissions products.
“The GO Scheme will help Australia to realise the full economic potential of the energy transition by supporting jobs and investment in a Future Made in Australia, and it will give Australian producers the confidence and credibility they need to compete in a global economy that’s rapidly decarbonising," Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson said.
PGO and REGO certificates will also help businesses meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting needs and demonstrate compliance with international low-carbon product frameworks.
Administration and legislation
The Clean Energy Regulator will manage registration, certificate creation and the online GO Register. It will also oversee compliance and maintain transparency across the system. Participants will pay phased-in fees under a cost recovery framework set out in the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Charges Act 2024 and related regulations.
The scheme is established under the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Act 2024 and associated rules, standards and methodologies. The first Methodology Determination covers hydrogen production from electrolysis and will expand to other sectors such as iron ore mining, aluminium, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. Consultation on these additions is expected through late 2025 and early 2026.
Looking ahead
The GO framework provides a transparent, verifiable record of emissions that can support both domestic use and exports to countries pursuing their own decarbonisation targets.
“The global shift to clean energy represents one of the biggest economic transformations since the Industrial Revolution – and it presents Australia with an enormous economic and jobs opportunity,” Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said.
By certifying how and where clean energy is produced, GO is expected to become a practical tool for industry, helping Australian producers demonstrate the value of low-carbon manufacturing and renewable electricity in both local and international markets.
