Waste and residues are often used as raw material for the production of biofuels. Biofuels have to comply with European legal sustainability requirements as laid down in the “Renewable Energy Directive”. Better Biomass is one of the recognized certification schemes to demonstrate compliance with these sustainability requirements. If the biofuel is produced from non-agricultural, aquaculture, fishery or forestry waste and residues, the sustainability system shall also demonstrate that the verification of non-deliberate modification of production processes is part of the conformity assessment activity. The Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management has assessed Better Biomass in this respect and decided to approve this sustainability system for issuing proof of the absence of deliberate modification of production processes.

Promoting use of residual flows

The “Renewable Energy Directive” includes an annex with raw materials that are classified as waste or residue (also known as Annex IX). The energy content of these materials counts twice to achieve the target of the share of renewable energy for transport (10 % in 2020). Furthermore, the use of waste and residues is promoted to prevent the use of food crops. Because of these benefits, it might be attractive for companies to deliberately produce more of these materials. For this reason, sustainability systems are expected to ensure that production processes are not deliberately modified.

Better Biomass also assesses whether raw materials that are classified as residual flow meet the definition of residual flow. This definition includes the non-deliberate modification of production processes. The sustainability system also contains specific rules for the certification bodies that assess companies. With a positive assessment, the company receives a Better Biomass certificate. The proof of absence of deliberate modification of production processes is stated with Better Biomass by a declaration on the certificate and in (the summary of) the audit report.

Renewable energy units

In the Netherlands, economic operators that deliver biofuels to the Dutch market must book the volumes in the registry administered by the Dutch Emission Authority (NEa). The economic operator receives renewable energy units (HBE) for the booked biofuels. The required HBEs are increasing annually with a growing target for the share of renewable energy. The NEa distinguishes three types of HBEs, which are linked to the nature of the raw materials. The economic value of an HBE can differ per type. The HBE obtained from the use of advanced biofuels is based on the materials in Annex IX. An economic operator can only receive such HBEs if it has a proof of absence of deliberate modification of production processes.

NEN is Bronze Sponsor of the 14th annual World Bio Markets – the leading assembly for the bio-based economy. This assembly will take place at the Passenger Terminal in Amsterdam (NL) from 1 to 3 April 2019. NEN will have a stand and will moderate a round table in the session ‘Building a bio-based industry’.

NEN is not only scheme manager of Better Biomass certification, but also of Bio-based content certification that enables independent assessment of claims about the bio-based content of products to facilitate both business to business and business to consumer communication. Moreover, NEN has leading positions in European standardisation in the field of bio-based products (CEN/TC 411), algae and algae products (CEN/TC 454) and sustainability criteria for biomass (CEN/TC 383) as well as in international standardisation in the field of chain of custody (ISO/PC 308). Furthermore, NEN is involved in several (European) pre- and co-normative research projects aiming at fostering innovation and market introductions to accelerate the (circular) bio-economy.

Attendees of World Bio Markets 2019 have the opportunity to meet NEN colleagues to learn more about how standardisation and certification can boost their business. Also during the round table session entitled “Shaping the bio-based economy: fostering innovation and market introductions with standardisation and certification tools” we will interact with the participants on these building blocks. We look forward to meeting you and to building strategic partnerships.

More about the round table session

Established companies are shifting from fossil-based to bio-based materials in their production processes, whilst start-ups and spin-offs introduce innovative products, services and technologies supporting the bio-based economy. Several public and/or private research, development and demonstration projects provide useful results needed for scaling up new technologies and production processes to increase the share of bio-based materials in the overall use of raw materials. Standardisation is an efficient and proven concept to support sectors with their innovations and accelerating market introductions. Standardisation provides a common language, enhance cost effectiveness through standardised procedures and ensuring interoperability, and addresses health, safety and environmental aspects as part of the (social) licence to operate. Certifications deliver independent assessments of conformity with specific standards, which enable credible and transparent communication about certain aspects of bio-based products, both business-to-business and business-to-consumer. NEN is involved in pre-/co-normative research projects, and in developing and managing standards and certification schemes. With these activities, NEN has access to a large and diverse network of experts around the globe. During this roundtable session we will discuss in which way standardisation and certification can support your bio-based activities. We invite attendees of World Bio Markets 2019 to identify barriers they encounter in their activities to move forward in the transition towards the (circular) bio-based economy. Together with peers we will try to tackle these barriers, for example by determining needs for standardisation or certification. Success stories are also welcome for inspiration and lessons learned. Your take away of this roundtable session will be a better equipped tools box to make your business (even) more successful.

The Better Biomass certification scheme has been re-recognised by the European Commission in the framework of the Renewable Energy Directive. Companies can use Better Biomass to demonstrate compliance with the legal sustainability requirements in this Directive. These requirements apply to biofuels and bioliquids. The recognition is valid for a new period of five years.

Directive 2009/28/EC, better known as Renewable Energy Directive (RED), lays down requirements to safeguard sustainable sourcing of biomass for the production of biofuels and bioliquids. These requirements relate to greenhouse gas emission savings, protection of highly biodiverse land and land with high carbon stocks as well as to traceability and transparency in the supply chain.

The RED requirements are incorporated in the standards NTA 8080-1:2015 (sustainability) and NTA 8080-2:2015 (chain of custody). With Better Biomass, companies are assessed whether they conform to the NTA 8080 requirements. Companies that are Better Biomass certified are able to demonstrate to comply with the RED. Better Biomass certified products may be counted in the renewable energy target. The implementation decision of this re-recognition will be enforced from 18 December 2018.

Second recognition in a row

In November 2018, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy approved the Better Biomass certification scheme in the framework of the Dutch Decree conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. This approval is applicable to all five biomass categories that are distinguished, and applies for the global use of the ‘Better Biomass certified’ claim.

Better Biomass is applicable to solid, liquid and gaseous biomass for biofuels, power and or heat production and bio-based products. The biomass producer has more flexibility in this way to market its products under a harmonised set of sustainability requirements. The two legal recognitions offers the market also access to a robust certification scheme to independently demonstrate the sustainable origin and utilisation of biomass.

The Better Biomass certification scheme has been approved in the framework of the Dutch Decree conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. This approval is applicable to all five biomass categories that are distinguished, and applies for the global use of the ‘Better Biomass certified’ claim. With this approval, the market has access to a robust certification scheme to independently demonstrate the sustainable origin and utilisation of biomass for energy applications.

The Decree and the related Regulation conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications include the sustainability, chain-of-custody and governance requirements of the certification scheme. This set of requirements is the result of the Dutch Energy Agreement. The use of bioenergy generated by co-firing of biomass in coal-fired power plants is one to the pillars of this Energy Agreement. Societal organizations and energy producing companies have agreed on the conditions concerning sustainable sourcing and traceability of the biomass used. Energy producing companies have to demonstrate that they comply with these conditions by means of certification and/or verification. Scheme managers can submit their certification scheme to the Dutch Advisory Commission Sustainable Biomass for Energy Applications for an assessment. This advisory commission will subsequently advise the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy about the (partial) approval of the system.

Scope of approval

The Regulation distinguishes five biomass categories, ranging from biomass from (sustainably managed) forest to residues and waste from industry. The sustainability requirements that are applicable depend on the biomass category. Better Biomass has been approved for all biomass categories and for all sustainability requirements. One element would require a minor amendment. This concerns the explicit declaration that an organisation has been assessed to the definition of protected species as laid down in the Regulation. With this approval, biomass producers from all over the world can bring their products with a Better Biomass certificate to Dutch market for the production of bioenergy.

Better Biomass is not only applicable to solid biomass, but also to liquid and gaseous biomass for biofuels, power and or heat production and bio-based products. The biomass producer has more flexibility in this way to market its products under a harmonised set of sustainability requirements.

The revised Better Biomass scheme was launched in April 2017, building on the second edition of NTA 8080 that contains the sustainability and chain-of-custody requirements for biomass for energy applications and bio-based products. Better Biomass is also designed to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements for sustainably produced biomass. It concerns the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) for biofuels and bioliquids, and the Dutch regulation concerning conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. In both cases, legal authorities need to recognise Better Biomass as voluntary scheme. This article provides an update about these recognition processes.

Renewable Energy Directive

Better Biomass has been submitted to the European Commission for re-recognition as voluntary scheme to demonstrate compliance with the relevant RED requirements. This recognition procedure appears to be a lengthy process. Meanwhile, the current recognition (from 2012) has expired, but is still accepted by authorities in member states where Better Biomass is applied based on temporary extensions.

The technical assessment of the revised Better Biomass scheme has been concluded, resulting in some amendments to the scheme documents by incorporating ‘RED language’ rather than referring to relevant documents. To date, the internal procedure is ongoing and a final decision is expected before the end of June 2018.

Once the European Commission has recognised the revised Better Biomass scheme as voluntary scheme, this version will also be applicable to organisations operating under the RED. This means that they have to comply with the sustainability and chain-of-custody requirements in the second edition of NTA 8080 at their next regular audit. For other organisations, the revised Better Biomass scheme is already applicable.

Sustainability of solid biomass regulation

Under the Dutch Energy Agreement, the energy sector, NGOs and government agreed on a set of sustainability requirements for solid biomass used for energy applications to be eligible for subsidy. These sustainability requirements are laid down in the Regulation concerning conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications, which has become effective as from 1 January 2018.

After a pre-assessment, Better Biomass has started the formal application procedure to become recognised under this regulation. The feedback from the pre-assessment has been taken into account in the scheme documents. One important aspect related to the definition of the different biomass categories that are applied in the regulation to enable distinguishing sustainability requirements among the different biomass categories. This clarification is now provided in the Better Biomass scheme documents.

According to the assessment procedure, the period from external consultation till the advice from the advisory commission to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy will take 22 weeks. Based on this time schedule, an advice will be expected in September 2018 at the latest. Better Biomass was the first scheme that submitted their documents for the pre-assessment.

Meet Better Biomass at Argus Biomass

The updated Better Biomass scheme documents will soon be published, so that they will become effective for the existing and new Better Biomass certificate holders. The certificate holders will receive more information about the possible impact of the amended Better Biomass scheme documents related to their current scope of certification.

Better Biomass scheme manager Jarno Dakhorst will participate in the Argus Biomass Conference, taking place in London on 17, 18 and 19 April 2018. Attendees of Argus Biomass can meet him for a talk how Better Biomass can contribute to make their business more sustainable in a transparent manner.

Better Biomass is the first certification scheme that has made use of the opportunity to apply for an assessment to the sustainability requirements for solid biomass, which have been agreed within the framework of the Dutch Energy Agreement. The Dutch advisory commission on sustainability of biomass for energy applications (ADBE) will assess the scheme. Stakeholders can submit their external input till 11 September 2017.

One of the pillars of the Dutch Energy Agreement is the use of bioenergy generated by co-firing of biomass in coal-fired power plants. Societal organizations and energy producing companies have agreed on the conditions concerning sustainable sourcing and traceability of the biomass used. Energy producing companies have to demonstrate that they comply with these conditions by means of certification and/or verification. Certification and verification scheme owners can submit their scheme to ADBE for assessment. Energy producing companies can then use the recognized schemes for all or part of the sustainability and traceability aspects.

External input

The procedure of ADBE includes the possibility that stakeholders can provide input on the advisory application. The ADBE is mainly looking for well substantiated facts and experiences about the practical functioning of the submitted scheme. Concerning Better Biomass, stakeholders can provide their input via the website of ADBE (in Dutch) till 11 September 2017. Only external input that meets the conditions that are listed on the website will be considered by ADBE.

Better Biomass

The revised edition of NTA 8080 has taken into account the developments linked to the Dutch Energy Agreement. The two parts of NTA 8080 describe the sustainability and chain-of-custody requirements for biomass for energy applications and bio-based products. Companies have to comply with the NTA 8080 requirements to qualify for the Better Biomass certificate. The Better Biomass certification scheme includes the assessment method by certification bodies and the criteria for granting a certificate. The updated Better Biomass certification scheme was published in April.

More information

The web portal www.betterbiomass.com contains more information about the certification system and the related documents. You can contact Jarno Dakhorst via energy@nen.nl or by phone number +31 15 2 690 245 for additional information.

PRESS RELEASE – The updated Better Biomass certification scheme has been published by NEN. This scheme enables certification to the 2^nd edition of NTA 8080, the standard including sustainability and chain-of-custody requirements. The updated scheme is not only applicable to bioenergy, but also to bio-based products. In addition, the scheme is aligned with the sustainability requirements in the amended Renewable Energy Directive and those agreed within the Dutch Energy Agreement related to solid biomass. So, Better Biomass is up-to-date to facilitate the transition towards a (circular) bioeconomy with credible certification regarding the sustainability of the biomass used.

The biobased economy is an emerging economy, replacing fossil-based raw materials with bio-based materials (i.e. biomass) with potentially environmental and socio-economic benefits. One important aspect to make this transition successful is demonstrating that the biomass used is sustainably sourced. NTA 8080 describes the sustainability and chain-of-custody requirements, to trace back the origin of biomass. The Better Biomass certification scheme describes the certification rules under supervision of an accreditation council. With Better Biomass certification companies can demonstrate via an independent assessment that they comply with state-of-the-art sustainability criteria as described in NTA 8080.

Non-RED and RED biomass products

Better Biomass is one of the recognized voluntary schemes to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability requirements as laid down in Directive 2009/28/EC, also known as the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The new version of the Better Biomass certification scheme is under reassessment. Pending this procedure, the new version of the Better Biomass certification scheme is not yet applicable to biomass products that are intended for biofuels (fuel for transport) or bioliquids (liquid fuel for other energy purposes),  i.e. fall within the scope of RED.

By launching the new version of Better Biomass certification scheme, companies active in the supply chain for bio-based products can start using Better Biomass and also companies in the field of solid and gaseous biomass can upgrade their certification by implementing the state-of-the-art sustainability criteria.

More information

The webportal www.betterbiomass.com provides more information and documentation about the Better Biomass certification scheme. Interested parties are also invited to join the Better Biomass Day that will be organized on 7 June 2017. For more information, contact the Better Biomass scheme managers by e-mail info@betterbiomass.nl or phone +31 15 2 690 326.