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Notice

Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS): open to applications

This scheme provides tariff support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion which is injected into the gas grid.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Published:
29 November 2021
Last updated:
16 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated to include new regulations on the Green Gas Support Scheme which come into effect on 16 October and extend the scheme’s commissioning deadline to 31 March 2030 (previously 31 March 2028).

  2. New regulations are expected to come into effect in early 2026 to extend the commissioning window of the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) to 31 March 2030. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, applicants have an additional two years to commission plants and begin injecting biomethane into the gas grid.   

  3. New regulations on the Green Gas Support Scheme which come into effect today (4 June) extend the scheme to 31 March 2028 (previously 30 November 2025).

  4. We are extending the Green Gas Support Scheme to 31 March 2028.

  5. An update on plans for the GGSS Mid-Scheme Review consultation in early 2023.

  6. The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) is now open to applications.

  7. First published.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Read the guidance and apply for the scheme on the Ofgem site

https://ggss.ofgem.gov.uk/

GGSS mid-scheme review: extending the scheme (update 21 October 2023)

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Details

Update: 16 October 2026

Regulations to extend the commissioning deadline of the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) from 31 March 2028 to 31 March 2030 came into force on 16th October 2026.

This extension provides eligible applicants with an additional two years to commission plants, begin injecting biomethane into the gas grid and make their stage 3 application for GGSS registration. The extension aims to maximise deployment and the associated carbon savings that can be achieved through the scheme.

The deadline for submitting new stage 1 applications remains 31 March 2028. The maximum tariff lifetime remains 15 years but if participants commission beyond 31 March 2028, their tariff length will not be extended and will end by 31 March 2043. For example, if an applicant has a commissioning date of 31 March 2030 (the final date possible under the extension), they will receive a tariff lifetime of 13 years.

The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) provides tariff support for plants producing biomethane via anaerobic digestion which is injected into the gas grid. Tariffs are calculated to compensate plants for the building of new infrastructure to produce biomethane and ongoing operation costs.

It is funded by the Green Gas Levy which is applied to all licenced fossil fuel gas suppliers.

The scheme follows the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme which closed to new applicants on 31 March 2021.

The GGSS launched on 30 November 2021. It is open to applications until 31 March 2028. The commissioning deadline for eligible applicants is 31 March 2030.

Registered participants will receive tariff payments for up to 15 years.

How to apply

You can apply on Ofgem’s Green Gas Support Scheme portal

Find out more about the scheme and read the scheme guidance on the Ofgem website.

Tariffs and budget management

Two separate budget caps have been set for the scheme:

  • the Applications Budget Cap (AB): a cap against which applications to the scheme are checked to ensure that there is available budget based on their estimated production and resulting spend
  • the Overall Scheme Expenditure Budget Cap (OSEB): set above the AB, this cap is used to set the Green Gas Levy.

Visit the Green Gas Support Scheme budget management page for budget cap details.

Tariff review

An annual review of tariffs may be conducted. This is the primary mechanism to amend tariffs offered to new applicants. The review ensures the scheme continues to meet its objectives and consistently delivers value for money.

The degression mechanism on the GGSS acts to prevent over-compensation where biomethane deployment is greater than anticipated. It will do so by automatically reducing the tariffs available for new applicants by 10%, if set expenditure thresholds within a quarter are expected to be exceeded.

Expected outcomes

The scheme will help decarbonise Great Britain’s gas supplies by increasing the proportion of ‘green’ gas in the grid. According to the Energy Emissions and Projections, the GGSS is expected to contribute 3.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent of carbon savings over Carbon Budgets 4 and 5, and 11.77 million tons of CO2 equivalent of carbon savings over its lifetime through the displacement of natural gas in the gas grid. We expect the GGSS to help support high-quality jobs in the renewable energy sector.

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