Under the Product Guarantee of Origin (PGO), PGO certificates are non-tradeable digital documents that verify the origin, production method, and emissions intensity of a product – such as hydrogen.
We issue one certificate for each ‘whole functional unit’ of an eligible product (e.g. one kg of hydrogen) made by a facility.
PGO certificates show:
- production details: where and how a product was made and its associated emissions intensity
- delivery details: how a product is transported and stored (e.g. pipeline, truck, ship)
- consumption details: where and how a product is used or exported (e.g. hydrogen used by an ammonia producer).
You will be able to view all PGO certificates on the Guarantee of Origin (GO) Register.
How certificate creation works
Certificates are created and updated by different profile holders at various stages. These profiles represent roles in the product’s lifecycle – such as production, delivery and consumption. A single registered person can hold multiple profiles depending on their responsibilities.
It starts with the production profile holder making a batch of eligible product and creating a certificate for it using the production details. Then, the authorised delivery profile holder adds delivery details to the certificate.
Next, the production profile holder submits the certificate for registration. The authorised consumption profile holder can request we add the consumption details at any time during the 12 months after the certificate is registered.
Once all product lifecycle details are added and the certificate is registered, the certificate is finalised.
This process allows collaboration between different people, such as:
- hydrogen producers authorising a transporter to add delivery emissions
- retailers or industrial users requesting we add consumption data to finalise the certificate.
Create and manage certificates
All registered production profile holders will be able to create and manage certificates. Each profile holder has specific responsibilities.
Learn how to identify and register a profile.
Production profile holders lead the certificate creation process. They’re responsible for data integrity, overall coordination and authorising other profiles to contribute.
Key tasks
- Create a certificate
- Authorise and coordinate with delivery and consumption profile holders
- Review and submit certificates
Create a certificate
To create a certificate, production profile holders must include the following details in the form:
- product type
- functional unit of the product
- production profile details
- production pathway (specified in the production profile)
- facility where the product was produced
- production gate for the product at the facility
- amount of product in the batch
- time taken to produce the batch
- time and day that the last part of the batch left the production gate
- amount of greenhouse gases emitted in relation to the batch from each production emissions source for the production pathway
- emissions intensity of the batch
- any further information required under the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Rules 2025.
One certificate can be created for one whole functional unit of the product.
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Example
If you produce 1,000 kg of hydrogen in one batch, you can submit the same information for the whole batch and create 1,000 certificates – one for each kg of hydrogen in the batch. If you produce less than a whole unit (e.g. 500 g of hydrogen), you can’t create a certificate for it.
The production profile holder will need to consider if they want to nominate renewable energy certificates (e.g. large-scale generation certificates, Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin certificates). These certificates provide verified evidence that renewable electricity was used in the production process, helping to demonstrate the low-emissions nature of the product.
Authorise and coordinate with delivery and consumption profile holders
To authorise other profile holders, the production profile holder must apply and include:
- who the registered person is
- the certificates or profiles they’re allowed to update
- the type of information they’re allowed to add.
To change an authorised profile holder, the producer must contact us and confirm the new party is eligible and already a registered person.
During the initial phase of the scheme, coordination between profile holders will be managed manually between the parties and us using the authorisation, transfer or withdrawal notification form.
Review and submit certificates
After the production and delivery information is added to the certificate, the production profile holder submits the certificate for registration.
Certificates must be registered within one year of production.
After the production profile holder submits their application, we’ll assess it and either register the certificates, refuse it or ask for more information.
If the certificates are registered, the following happens:
- We give each certificate a unique identification number.
- The certificate details are published on the public GO Register.
After authorisation from a production profile holder, delivery profile holders can add information to certificates.
Key tasks
- Add delivery-related information
Add delivery information
The authorised delivery profile holder must add:
- their details (as the profile holder)
- the amount of the product from the batch that reached the delivery gate specified in the profile
- the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in relation to the batch from each post-production emissions source specified in the profile.
After authorisation from a production profile holder, consumption profile holders can request that we add information to certificates. This can only be done after a certificate is registered.
Key tasks
- Add consumption information
Add consumption information
The authorised consumption profile holder must request to add:
- their details (as the profile holder)
- the name and location of the facility (if the product is consumed at a single facility)
- a description of those facilities (if the product is consumed at multiple facilities)
- how the batch was consumed.
Once the consumption information is added, the certificate is finalised. It will still be available on the GO Register, but no new information can be added (unless there is a correction up to the certificate’s final declaration day).
Correct a certificate
All profile holders can ask us to correct a certificate. To request a correction, email us at pgo@cer.gov.au.
We may also choose to correct a certificate if there’s a minor or technical error before the certificate’s final declaration day.
Invalid certificates
We may invalidate a certificate if:
- a production profile holder asks us to
- the certificate contains an error
- excess certificates have been created for a batch of product
- it contains false or misleading information
- it was created or updated by an unauthorised person
- the profiles used to create it were suspended or cancelled
- it wasn’t submitted for registration within one year of production
- the registered person fails to provide information we request.
Invalid certificates are recorded in the GO Register.
We may also audit certificates and ask for supporting documentation to verify claims.