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NEN presentation and exhibition stand at World Biomass Markets, 27-29 March

NEN is participating in the World Biomass Markets in Amsterdam, 27th to 29th March. On Monday 27th March, during the World Bio Brands Markets, NEN will give a presentation titled: Shaping the bioeconomy with bio-based content and sustainable biomass certification. In this lecture, Harmen Willemse will discuss the two certification systems: Better Biomass and Bio-based content, focussing on how they enable credible claims regarding important characteristics for bio-based products and biomass for energy applications.

On the 28th and 29 of March, NEN will have a stand at the World Bio Markets exhibition, where our team will be available to discuss the opportunities of Better Biomass and Biobased content certification. Come visit us in our booth or schedule 1-2-1 private partnering meetings using the WBM Partnering App!

Workshop: Better Biomass certification: demonstrating sustainability of the biomass in bio-based products

27 October 2015 16:00 – 18:30 pm.

Square Brussels Meeting Centre
Pre-conference event to EFIB

The event will be preceded by a workshop on Public Procurement of Bio-based products.

Better Biomass is the international certification system for solid, liquid and gaseous biomass. The Better Biomass certificate is used to demonstrate the sustainability of the biomass used for bio-based products, fuels or energy. The certification system has originally been established (and recognized) to demonstrate compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and recently expanded its scope to include bio-based products.

During the workshop the participants will be informed about the underlying sustainability criteria of the certification system and how they can demonstrate compliance. Case examples of certified companies will be presented and the possibilities to use the Better Biomass in (public) procurement procedures will be discussed. The workshop will conclude with an informal part where participants can address experts for individual questions, or exchange ideas with other participants.

The workshop is taking place on 27 October 2015 in Brussels from 16:00 pm – 18:30 pm. Places are limited. Pre-register here for participation. Formal invitations will be sent to a selection of pre-registered candidates. Participation without invitation is not possible.

〉 Workshop pre-registration

Workshop agenda

16:00 Welcome and introductions

16:10 Presentation of Better Biomass sustainability criteria
Overview of the updated sustainability criteria, including:
– Carbon debt
– ILUC (Indirect Land-Use Change)
– Cascading use of biomass
– Biodiversity
– Bio-based products

16:30 Cases of Better Biomass certified companies
– Eneco Bio Golden Raand: Generating sustainable electricity form painted/limed residue wood
– other cases: to be confirmed

17:00 Issuing of new Better Biomass certificates
Reception and opportunity for exchange with experts

18:30 Closure

Eneco’s biomass plant receives Better Biomass certificate

– First certificate under new name

On the 6th of May in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, Eneco received the Better Biomass certificate for her new biomass plant Bio Golden Raand. The certificate was issued by Jorn Bronsvoort, director of QS Certification. With this certificate, Eneco demonstrates that the plant in Delfzijl, which produces electricity from waste wood, complies with the international criteria for sustainably produced biomass. IMG_2189

‘Better Biomass’ is the new name for the certificates that are issued based on NTA 8080 to companies which produce, trade or process sustainable biomass. Bio Golden Raand is the first biomass plant in the world which has obtained the Better Biomass certificate by its new name.

Eneco has agreed with its biomass suppliers that they will all obtain the Better Biomass certificate before the end of 2015. This satisfies WWF, with which the energy company has a partnership. Arjette Stevens, Senior Advisor Biomass at the WWF, emphasizes the importance of certification: ’WWF welcomes this first important step, by which Eneco show that it is taking the lead in the Netherlands in the use of really sustainable resources for energy production. We are happy that Eneco chooses for waste wood instead of felling trees. The use of waste reduces the pressure on the forests.’

The role of NEN
NEN, the Dutch standardisation institute, manages the certification scheme, which is linked to the Better Biomass certificate and supports the revision, which includes the name change. Piet-Hein Daverveldt, director of NEN, about the first Better Biomass certificate: ‘We are proud that Eneco tops her efforts to increase the sustainability of the supply chain with the Better Biomass certificate. It proves once more that this certification system is a very useful instrument for companies to ensure the sustainability of the used biomass‘.

Better Biomass: new name ‘NTA 8080 Approved’ certificate

Certificates issued to companies which produce, trade or process sustainable biomass, based on NTA 8080, are now called ‘Better Biomass’. Anticipating the publication of the revised version of the sustainability standard for biomass, NTA 8080, the certification system has been given a fresh look.

The new name Better Biomass including the new branding and logo is the first step in the update of the certification system. Companies that have obtained the Better Biomass certificate, use this certificate to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability criteria, covering aspects like greenhouse gas reduction, biodiversity, the environment, prosperity and wellbeing.

System update
The sustainability criteria in NTA 8080 and the certification scheme linked to this standard, are currently under revision. The scope is extended to cover sustainability of biomass for application in not only bioenergy but also biobased products. New aspects, including carbon debt, indirect land use change (ILUC) and cascading of biomass, have been taken into account. Publication of the updated version of the certification system is expected in the second half of this year. NEN facilitates this process as an independent manager of certification schemes. Certification is done by certification bodies that are affiliated to the system.

International sustainability certificate
Better Biomass is the international sustainability certificate for all types of biomass, including biofuels, solid and gaseous biomass as well as biobased products later on this year.
The certification system has been recognized by the European Commission for demonstrating compliance with the European sustainability criteria as laid down in the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC). NTA 8080 is also mentioned in relation to the sustainability criteria for solid biomass as part of the Dutch Energy agreement (Energieakkoord).

More information
More information is available on the new website: www.betterbiomass.com.
Technical questions can be addressed to Harmen Willemse, phone +31 (0)15 2 690 295, e-mail info@betterbiomass.nl.

Indonesian oil palm residue processors pursue NTA 8080 sustainability certification

The awareness in Indonesia about sustainability and, more specifically, the NTA 8080 sustainability certificate has been growing over the last several years. Sustainable Trade and Consulting (STC) is the first company that has initiated certification according to NTA 8080 of its oil palm residue processing facility. This intention to certify has been declared in a Statement of Intent, which STC signed with NEN, the certification scheme manager of NTA 8080. NTA 8080 has been recognized by the EU Commission as RED (Renewable Energy Directive) compliant.

By signing the Statement of Intent, the signatories declare that STC aims to become certified according to NTA 8080, to demonstrate that they perform their operations in a sustainable way. Both STC and NEN consider certification an important step towards production, conversion, trade and usage of sustainable biomass for energy applications.

STC
In partnership with Indonesian environmental consulting firm Forest Carbon, STC has developed a new paradigm for biofuel production in Indonesia by utilizing discarded oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs), a non-food waste stream from smallholder farmers and industrial producers. The processing facility will produce a new bio-oil product called ’High Fatty Acid Crude Palm Oil’ (HFCPO) from pressed waste fruits and recovered sludge oils discarded by the palm oil processing facilities. HFCPO is a substitute for diesel and bunker oil which can be used in power plants and engines.