NEA will continue to accept RED biofuel certification

The Dutch emissions authority NEA will continue to accept the use of sustainability systems — including the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme — to ensure biofuels come from sustainable sources, despite the expiry in August of the schemes' recognition by the European Commission.

The ISCC, among other certification systems, issues proof of sustainability (PoS) for biofuels, and allows companies to claim Dutch renewable fuels units, or HBEs, which count towards the Dutch biofuels blending mandate.

The ISCC scheme was approved under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive (RED) I, with approval under the recast RED II ongoing. RED II came into force on 1 July. The NEA first extended its acceptance of RED I sustainability systems in August, for a six-month period. It has now lengthened its acceptance period for as long as the commission's process is ongoing, to avoid affecting the supply of renewable energy to the Dutch transport sector.

The commission's formal process to complete the system's recognition under RED II will be completed in early 2022, the NEA said.

By Thomas Hughes