Sustainable Biomass: More than 6 million tons of certified processing capacity
ISCC in Germany and internationally accepted as certification system
Cologne, 30.08.2010 – The certification system "International Sustainability and Carbon Certification" (ISCC), implements the requirements of the German Sustainability Regulations and the European Renewable Energy Directive. Within the system already 35 certificates have been issued. The audited facilities have a processing capacity of around 6.3 million tonnes.
„Due to the certification progress of conversion units and the additional number of new company registrations with ISCC, we expect a fast increasing supply of sustainable biomass and bioenergy“ explains Norbert Schmitz, managing director of ISCC. The certification in the agricultural sector is still a challenge, but even here progress was made. Farmers and agricultural trade in the EU and also in Non-EU member states should start directly with the process of auditing, to secure a sufficient supply of sustainable biomass.
In Belgium, with Alco Biofuel NV, the first ethanol-producing company has been certified.
„The audits have shown that ISCC is suitable for both, agricultural first gathering points and conversion units. In our point of view ISCC has proved in practice”, explains Rainer Friedel, managing director of Peterson Control Union (PCU) Germany. PCU achieved in Europe many successful ISCC certifications. Also other major certification bodies, like SGS and TÜV use ISCC intensely.
Successful audits took place in Germany, France, Poland, and the Netherlands. In addition, complete supply chains from Asia to Europe were audited.
„We are just preparing audits of several big ethanol plants in Brazil”, says Vanda Nunes of SGS Sao Paulo. „The interest in ISCC certificates rose steeply during the last months in Brazil and its neighbouring countries. The market realized, that without a proof of sustainability, sales into the European bioenergy market will not be any longer possible.”
For ISCC the qualification of the auditors is crucial. About 150 auditors already participated in comprehensive ISCC seminars in Europe. In Asia and Latin America about 80 auditors were trained by ISCC. Due to the great demand, more training seminars are currently being prepared.
Companies who want to receive a feed-in tariffs and a bonus for the use of renewable resources based on the Renewable Energy Act or who want to sell biofuels within the quota system, will have to proof the sustainability of their raw materials on January 1st 2011 at the latest.
As the first certification system worldwide, ISCC was recognized by the German authorities (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung- BLE). The application for recognition by the European Commission was submitted recently.
In the ISCC system, independent auditors check compliance with sustainability requirements along the entire supply chain within the EU and Non-EU member states as Brazil, Argentina and Indonesia.On the basis of a set of criteria, ecological and social aspects of the production of biofuels for transport or liquid biomass for electricity production will be checked. In addition to this, traceability over the whole and complex supply chain back to the origin must be possible. Due to the mandatory sustainability requirements the audit has to proof greenhouse gas savings from the use of bioenergy at least of 35%, compared to fossil fuels.
For more information please contact:
Dr. Norbert Schmitz, ISCC System GmbH
Tel.: +49-221-9727232, E-Mail: schmitz@iscc-system.org