Nederlandse versie

The Committee of Experts Better Biomass has approved the new addendum to Interpretation Document N°8 on Greenhouse gas emissions in case of co-digestion for the production of biogas or biomethane.

The addendum specifies that in case of co-digestion of different substrates in a biogas plant for the production of biogas or biomethane, greenhouse gas emissions shall be calculated as a single value for the whole amount of biogas or biomethane and not separately for each substrate used.

The Better Biomass Committee of Experts understands the impact of this interpretation, but also
underlines the importance of a level playing field in the market. Therefore, this interpretation will be
effective as from July 1st 2024. The GHG emission calculations of all biogas and biomethane
produced from that date shall comply with this interpretation.

Nederlandse versie

The DRAFT new documents for certification of biomass for energy applications and biobased products are available on this page. These are the versions as approved by the EC for Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (Renewable Energy Directive [RED II]) and the supplementary Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria from June 14, 2022.

Before these new documents can come into effect, a number of steps still need to be taken, including translation (NL), final editing and an assessment by the Dutch Accreditation Council. The documents have already been approved by the European Commission. The informative versions of the new scheme documents have been made available so that certificate holders have the opportunity to prepare for them.

It is important to take into account that the final versions may differ from these informative versions. No rights can be derived from these draft documents and the audits are currently carried out on the basis of the Current certification documents.

Nederlandse versie

We hereby inform you about a number of current developments.

Acceptance for IR 2022/996

After a number of assessment and adjustment rounds at the end of 2023, we received notice in (early) January that Better Biomass has been accepted by the EC for the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria of June 14, 2022. This implementing regulation is a supplement to the REDII (Directive (EU) 2018/2001).
This does not yet include recognition for forest biomass criteria, Article 29(6) and 29(7) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The updates required for this will now be addressed as quickly as possible. Approval has been granted for the draft versions of the new scheme documents. The necessary steps will be taken in the near future to complete the revision of the Better Biomass scheme documents. This will still take some time. We will keep you informed as best as possible and a transition period will apply after publication, so that there is sufficient time for the new version to be applied.

Approval for RCVB

In December, the following additional scheme documents were submitted to RVO for approval in the context of the de Regeling conformiteitsbeoordeling vaste biomassa voor energietoepassingen (RCVB). At the end of December we received notice that this additional approval had taken place. This decision will be published in the Staatscourant.

This concerns the following documents:

• Addendum to Interpretation Document N° 8 on reducing woody residual flows.
• Addendum to Interpretation Document N° 8 on Bone Meal.
• Addendum to Interpretation Document N° 8 on Acceptance of other schemes

Onboarding Union Database for Biofuels

The European Commission, as required by RED 2, is setting up a Union Database (UDB) to ensure transparency and traceability of renewable fuels. The intention is that certificate holders who supply renewable fuels for transport will book their biomass transactions here. (so only suppliers of transport fuels!)

All Better Biomass certificate holders within the scope of the UDB have had their certificate data uploaded to the UDB. As these are all biogas producers, no initial stock registration is yet required nor accounting for their transactions from January 1, 2024. This will only start after the technical links between the UDB and the respective national registers of Guarantees of Origin (GOs) will have been achieved. So we are waiting for a connection with VertiCer, among others. Until then, no transactions need to be recorded in the UDB for gaseous biofuels. We await further instructions on the implementation of the UDB for gaseous biofuel producers.

The Committee of Experts Better Biomass has approved the addendum to Interpretation document N° 8 on Acceptance of other schemes. This addendum specifies that biomass certified according to voluntary schemes and national schemes that are formally recognised by the EC in the framework of the RED II can be accepted and delivered by Better Biomass certified operators as “EU RED COMPLIANT”.

No Better Biomass logo and claim

In these cases, the Better Biomass logo and claim shall not be used of any of the outgoing documents and also not by subsequent economic operators in the supply chain, including issuers of guaranties of origin for green gas or green electricity.
The interpretation does not change the fact that the claim “Better Biomass certified” means that the entire upstream supply chain, including the cultivation or collection of the raw material is certified according to Better Biomass, and the material used in the supply chain consists entirely and solely of Better Biomass material, at least on a quantity bookkeeping basis.

Exclusion

Economic operators which are certified to demonstrate compliance with the legal sustainability requirements of the Regeling conformiteitsbeoordeling vaste biomassa voor energietoepassingen (RCVB) are not entitled to accept materials certified under voluntary schemes and national schemes that are formally recognised by the European Commission in the framework of the RED II, other than Better Biomass. Hence, they cannot use the “EU RED Compliant” option under this legal framework.

More information

More details can be found in the interpretation document. The introduction of the “EU RED Compliant” option is expected to contribute tot the facilitation of trade of sustainable materials throughout the supply chain.

The European Commission has published its decision on the recognition of the ‘Better Biomass’ voluntary scheme for demonstrating compliance with the requirements set in Directive (EU) 2018/2001

The Better Biomass voluntary scheme has been evaluated and has been approved for demonstration of:

• compliance of the consignments of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels with the sustainability criteria laid down in Article 29(2) to (5) and (10) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001;
• compliance of economic operators with the obligation to enter accurate information into the Union or national database on renewable fuels and recycled carbon fuels used in transport in accordance with Article 28(4) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

The scheme also has been confirmed to contain accurate data on greenhouse gas emission savings for the purpose of Article 29(10) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in as far as it ensures that all relevant information from economic operators upstream the chain of custody is transferred to the economic operators downstream the chain of custody.

The decision has entered into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 8 April 2022. This decision follows the positive technical assessment last summer.

Implementation Act on sustainability, GHG and low ILUC

The assessment did not take into account the forthcoming implementing act to be adopted in accordance with article 30(8) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria as well as the delegated acts to be adopted in accordance with article 28(5) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.

The ‘Better Biomass’ voluntary scheme will therefore be re-assessed when such implementing and delegated acts will be adopted. The latest reported progress on this matter is that at its 5^th meeting on the 10^th of March 2022, the RED II Committee on sustainability of biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels cast a positive vote on the draft legal text of the Implementing Regulation on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria. This allowed them to launch the adoption process for this legal act. These developments are followed closely by the scheme management of Better Biomass and more information will follow when there is news to report.

We are pleased to inform you that the Minister for Climate and Energy (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate) has approved the Better Biomass interpretation document N^o8 within the context of: Besluit conformiteitsbeoordeling van vaste biomassa voor energietoepassingen. This approval covers all biomass categories and has worldwide coverage. The interpretation document N^o 8 is applicable from 1 February for all audits. You will find this interpretation document and a ‘red line’ version on the website under Current certification documents.

Interpretation documents N^o 6 and 7 have also been formally approved, but N^o 8 is the current document and supersedes these previous versions.

Status RED II Recognition

On February 3, the RED II Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass Fuels issued a positive opinion on the decisions to recognize Better Biomass and 12 other voluntary schemes. The Commission states on its website that it expects formal approval and publication of these decisions by the end of the first quarter of 2022.

Better Biomass Revision

We realize that the interpretation document has become very complex due to the different approval procedures. That is why this year, after completion of all accreditation procedures, we are carrying out a revision in which the Interpretation Document is to be  included in the NTA 8080 series and the Better Biomass certification scheme (NCS 8080).

Better Biomass is the certification scheme that can be used to demonstrate the sustainability of biobased raw materials for energy applications and biobased products. Better Biomass can also be used to demonstrate compliance with legal requirements in the framework of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II) and the Dutch regulation concerning conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. The Better Biomass scheme documents will be revised. The several interpretations will be integrated in NTA 8080 and NCS 8080 to improve user-friendliness. Also the (non-legal) sustainability requirements will be reviewed in view of the sustainability framework for biobased raw materials.

Better Biomass (NTA 8080) certification is possible since 2009. Many changes have occurred since the launch en the scheme documents have been continuously updated to ensure legal compliance and to respond to new insights about what is considered sustainably produced biobased raw materials. The current editions of NTA 8080-1 with sustainability requirements and NTA 8080-2 with chain-of-custody requirements were published in December 2015. The document containing the rules for certification, NCS 8080, was published in Augustus 2018. By using interpretations that are established in the Interpretation Document it is ensured that the Better Biomass scheme remains up to date. The Interpretation Document has become a bulky document. With revising NTA 8080-1:2015, NTA 8080-2:2015 and NCS 8080:2018-08, it is intended to start with an empty Interpretation Document.

Sustainability framework biobased raw materials

The use of biobased raw materials for energy applications is heavily debated. Better Biomass is already applicable for biobased products and include a reporting requirement about the raw material efficiency. In the recently presented ‘Fit for 55’ climate package by the European Commission, the role of biobased raw materials is acknowledged. Strict sustainability requirements are proposed when (woody) biomass is utilized for bioenergy. In addition, high-end valorisation (cascading) of biobased raw materials is promoted. Also in the Netherlands, the government is developing a sustainability framework for biobased raw materials taking into account the recommendations of the SER advisory report ‘Biomass in the balance: A sustainability framework for high-value use of bio-based raw materials’. The Better Biomass scheme revision also intends to provide concrete building blocks to support such a sustainability framework.

Participation in revision

Interested parties can express their interest to take part in the revision by sending an e-mail to info@betterbiomass.com. Participation is free of charge. The working group will develop first the English version of the documents, which will be translated to Dutch after final text has been agreed. The (online) kick-off meeting is anticipated in September 2021.

For more information, contact Jarno Dakhorst, Better Biomass scheme manager, by e-mail info@betterbiomass.com or telephone +31 15 2 690 326.

The European Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (also known as RED II) has become effective from 1 July 2021. This directive also contains sustainability criteria as set out in Articles 29(2) to (7) and (10), greenhouse gas emissions savings thresholds as set out in Article 25(2), and mass balance system requirements as set out in Articles 30(1) and 30(2). Economic operators active in the field of biofuels, bioliquids and/or biomass fuels (solid and gaseous biomass) shall comply with the aforementioned legal requirements.

Better Biomass has received a positive technical assessment from the European Commission. This means that economic operators with a Better Biomass certificate can demonstrate that they comply with the relevant RED II requirements, so that their biofuels, bioliquids or biomass fuels qualify for being taken into account in determining the (national) renewable energy target. To date, the European Commission doesn’t officially recognize voluntary schemes in the framework of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 pending finalizing the Implementing Act on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria (expected by the end of 2021). Meanwhile economic operators can use Better Biomass to remain legal compliant.

Better Biomass will initiate a full revision process of its scheme by incorporating the Interpretation Document in the related scheme documents (i.e. NTA 8080-1, NTA 8080-2 and NCS 8080) to enhance user-friendliness and practicability, and by reviewing the (non-legal) sustainability criteria to promote high-end valorization of biobased raw materials as part of the deployment of the (circular) bioeconomy and in support of the ‘Fit for 55’ climate package.

The European Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (also known as RED II) has become effective from 1 July 2021. This directive supersedes Directive 2009/28/EC (also known as RED I) and Directive (EU) 2015/1513 (also known as ILUC Directive). Organisations operating within the framework of RED II shall comply with the sustainability criteria set out in Articles 29(2) to (7) and (10), the greenhouse gas emissions savings thresholds set out in Article 25(2), and the mass balance system set out in Articles 30(1) and 30(2) in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 from that date.

Better Biomass, together with several other voluntary schemes, is in the process to become recognised by the European Commission to demonstrate compliance with the aforementioned legal requirements. As part of this recognition process, Better Biomass has updated the scheme documents, particularly its Interpretation document addressing the interpretations reflecting the RED II requirements and the related conformity assessment activities. Interpretation document Nr 6 has been published on 1 July 2021 to support Better Biomass certificate holders to become ‘RED II proof’. Better Biomass certificate holders have received a communication about this, which includes an impact assessment of RED II. As Better Biomass is mainly used by organisations that collect, process, trade and / or valorise residues and waste, the impact is considered limited in most cases.

Better Biomass is close to finalise the technical assessment as part of the recognition process. The last outstanding issues will be addressed in Interpretation document Nr 7. After concluding this technical assessment, the full package of scheme documents will be submitted to the European Commission to initiate the formal recognition. In parallel, Better Biomass will initiate the formal revision procedure for NTA 8080-1:2015, NTA 8080-2:2015 and NCS 8080:2018-08 in which the last version of the Interpretation document will be integrated in these scheme documents. This integration will improve the unambiguity of the requirements and enhance the applicability of the scheme documents. The revision will also address the other sustainability aspects that are not covered by RED II as well as other applications like bio-based materials and products and cascading to support high-end valorisation options. Interested parties to join this revision process can indicate their interest by sending an e-mail to info@betterbiomass.nl.

The Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy has approved the updated Better Biomass scheme documents in the framework of the Decree conformity assessment of solid biomass for energy applications. This approval applies to all biomass categories and has as global coverage.

The updated scheme documents concern Interpretation document N⁰ 5 and NEN Scheme management manual version 7.1. With the approval of Interpretation document N⁰ 5, the issue with respect to cross-referencing between the NTA 8003:2017 classification of biomass and the biomass categories used in aforementioned decree has been resolved by replacing the cross-reference table with a reference to “Leidraad biomassa classificeren: categorieën en NTA 8003 codes binnen de SDE+ – Handreiking voor energieproducenten en conformiteitsbeoordelingsinstanties”, which contains decision trees and provides links to the classification applied in NTA 8003:2017. Attached is a version of Interpretation document N⁰ 5 marking the changes compared to the previous version. Furthermore, NEN Scheme management has updated their general procedures to conform to the requirements in NTA 8813:2017, Requirements for development and management of conformity assessment schemes by independent scheme owners [in Dutch].

Better Biomass can be used as certification scheme to demonstrate compliance with the Dutch sustainability criteria for solid biomass for energy applications as agreed within the Dutch Energy Agreement. This proof of compliance is important to qualify for the subsidy scheme ‘SDE+’. More information about this subsidy scheme is available at the website of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl).