Green Gas Support Scheme Privacy Notice

Publication date
Scheme name
GGSS

This privacy notice explains how we will collect and process your personal information for the purposes of Green Gas Support Scheme (“GGSS”), administered by Ofgem. This privacy notice also set out your rights as a data subject.

It applies to information we process concerning:

  • Green Gas Support Scheme applicants, scheme participants and registered users of the GGSS portal;
  • individuals who contact Ofgem with a query or information request, for example, a right of access request, regarding the Green Gas Support Scheme.

Controller

The Controller for the processing of any personal information as outlined in this privacy notice is the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, (GEMA). For ease of reference this privacy notice refers to the administrative office of GEMA, “Ofgem” throughout.

What personal information do we collect?

  • your name;
  • the address of the registered equipment to produce biomethane (which may also be your home address);
  • your email address and telephone number;
  • date on which the plant was commissioned;
  • specific location of the registered equipment to produce biomethane (grid reference);
  • documentary and photographic evidence in support of your application and/or any other information that Ofgem requires to enable it to consider the application for registration;
  • information for ID verification (including but not limited to):
    • your name;
    • date of birth;
    • photographic identification;
    • evidence of your home address;
    • bank details

Why we need to collect and process your information

We only collect information that we need in order to carry out our functions in relation to the GGSS. The purposes of processing personal data include monitoring, reviewing, and improving Ofgem’s performance of its legal functions related to scheme administration. Our primary function is to administer the GGSS which includes, but is not limited to, the functions below.

In relation to the GGSS scheme, we collect and process your information (including disclosing it to our agents, representatives or successors, or to other public bodies or third parties) in order to:

  • effectively administer the GGSS scheme;
  • verify the eligibility of biomethane producers applying for registration under the GGSS;
  • verify the volumes of Green Gas injection by any registered producer;
  • assign the correct tariff rate applicable;
  • ensure any payments are made correctly;
  • assist us in the identification of scheme abuse or suspected fraud;
  • to carry out statistical analysis or research and development in relation to the GGSS scheme;

In some cases, we use data analytics software to: 

  • identify suspected scheme abuse or fraud;
  • improve the services we provide;
  • monitor compliance with GGSS regulations.

Your personal information will not be used for profiling (that is, any computerised processing which may use personal information to evaluate certain things about an individual, for example any decision relating to your registration on the GGSS).

In order to inform future policy development of our Environmental and Social Schemes your data may be shared internally within Ofgem. Your information will be used to review and improve our scheme administration.

When do we collect personal information?

We will collect information directly from you:

  • when you register or apply to register as a user on the GGSS Portal;
  • when you apply for a tariff guarantee, registration on the GGSS or apply to register additional capacity;
  • if you are an authorised signatory for an organisation making an application;
  • when you submit declarations relating to the GGSS;
  • when you contact us with an email, telephone or written enquiry relating to the GGSS scheme and regulations;
  • when you submit periodic data or declarations via the GGSS Portal as per your ongoing obligations under this scheme;
  • when you make enquiries about, and an application(s) for registration to or for a tariff guarantee on to the GGSS;
  • when you submit information and data to us via the GGSS Portal;
  • during any subsequent audit, for example an audit of a registered injection/AD site;
  • when you visit our website, to remember you when you make repeat visits. You can find out how we do this through the use of cookies by clicking on the link here;
  • when you use our services, e.g. subscribe to our RSS feeds, social media sites, e-newsletters, email alerts or request a publication from us.
  • when it is necessary to verify your identity (ID verification).

We will also collect information directly from you when you sign up to our newsletter(s), respond to our customer satisfaction surveys or are part of any Ofgem working group related to the GGSS. We will collect and store your name and email address in order to send these to you, as well as your responses to questions posed relating to our performance in administering the scheme(s).

In addition, during audits of registered equipment used to produce biomethane we may receive information indirectly via a third party who we have contracted to undertake auditing work on our behalf. This information may include further documentary evidence relating to the registered equipment used to produce biomethane, including photographs.

How and when we will process and disclose your information

We will disclose your personal information in the following circumstances:

  • where the disclosure is required by law, statutory direction, court orders, or is necessary for the purposes of the administration or development of the GGSS;
  • where you give us explicit permission to disclose it;
  • for the processing and sharing of relevant information during audits

We will only share your information with the following organisations or official bodies:

  • Third-party auditors who audit the information provided to us by you (we will require such third parties to agree to treat the information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and the wider Ofgem Privacy Policy);
  • Third party suppliers, appointed by us in connection with our scheme administration. This may include research companies or agencies appointed to conduct surveys on our behalf. We will notify you of this in writing before any survey goes ahead and provide you with the opportunity to decline to take part;
  • Action Fraud or the Police in England or Wales or the Police in Scotland when we have found instances of suspected fraud;
  • The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), formerly the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who may share with an appointed third party for the purpose of evaluation of the GGSS scheme including application process, delivery, policy design and benefits.
  • DESNZ may issue a notice that legally compels Ofgem to disclose specified information collected for the purposes of administering the GGSS and for application evaluation surveys;
  • The Scottish Government and their approved contractors for the Scottish Government to report on and monitor devolved heat policy in Scotland;
  • The Welsh Government;
  • Local Authorities in Great Britain (upon request);
  • The Environment Agency;
  • Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs;
  • Department for Transport;
  • Trading Standards and the Serious Fraud Office;
  • The Energy Savings Trust (Scotland);
  • Xoserve and its subsidiary Corrella;
  • Universal Language Solutions Ltd should there be a requirement for the provision of written and/or spoken translation services from English into Welsh and from Welsh into English.

We may share some of your personal information with Gas Distribution Network companies to verify information you have provided for the purposes including, but not limited to, investigating suspected fraud.

Legal basis for processing your information

We collect and process your information under the ‘Public Task’ legal basis for processing as part of our remit as the GGSS administrator (UK GDPR, Article 6(1)(e)).

We would not be able to fulfil our obligations as the administrator of the GGSS without collecting and using your information.

We may process your information for the purpose of conducting surveys. Where we do so, this is necessary for the purposes of legitimate interests pursued by us within the meaning of article 6(1)(f) GDPR. Ofgem have a legitimate interest to understand our overall reputation among stakeholders and stakeholder’s expectations of Ofgem. Ofgem wish to understand perceptions of performance against strategic priorities, regulatory performance, and establish a baseline on these metrics for Delivery and Scheme participants. Ofgem also wish to use analysis of data to identify areas where engagement methods, systems and processes could be improved for customers and stakeholders in their experience with us. Where you agree to participate in a survey we will also process your information based on your consent.

Newsletters

Newsletters are sent to you based on your consent. Where you subscribe to GGSS newsletters, your consent is used as the legal basis to process your personal data (UK GDPR Article (6)(1)(a)). You can request to be taken off the distribution list at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the newsletter.

How long do we keep your information

Your personal information is deleted when we no longer need it for our functions in administering the GGSS. As such, it is retained by Ofgem for the duration of your participation on the GGSS (up to 15 years), and for a period of 7 years thereafter.

Your rights

If we hold information about you, you have the right to:

  • be informed about the data we hold about you;
  • access the information we hold about you;
  • have your personal information corrected if it is incomplete or inaccurate;
  • ask us to restrict how we process your information;
  • object to certain ways we use your information;
  • in some circumstances, you may have a right to object to Ofgem processing your information;

To see the full suite of new consumer rights available to you under UK GDPR, please refer to the Ofgem Privacy Policy or the ICO website. The Ofgem privacy policy also provides information on how Ofgem processes personal data.

How to contact us

If you would like to:

The Data Protection Officer

Ofgem

10 South Colonnade

Canary Wharf

London

E14 4PU

Complaints to the Information Commissioner

You have a right to complain to the Information Commissioner. If you want to raise a concern about how we have handled your information, you can report it direct to the Information Commissioner’s Office at the following address:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Online: Live chat

Changes to this privacy notice

We keep our privacy policy under regular review. This privacy notice was last updated on 25 January 2024.