This document summarizes the development of sustainability criteria for bioenergy at the European, international, and Dutch level. At the European level, the Renewable Energy Directive established criteria for biofuels including minimum greenhouse gas emission savings and restrictions on sourcing from areas with high biodiversity or carbon stock. European standards are also being developed based on these criteria. Internationally, an ISO technical committee is developing sustainability criteria for bioenergy production, supply chains, and applications. The Dutch approach established sustainability requirements and a certification system through voluntary standards and a scheme to certify sustainably produced biomass.

1. International Biomass Congress, RDM Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 13 October 2010
Towards global sustainability criteria
for bio-energy
Jarno Dakhorst, NEN Energy Resources

2. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Outline
• Background
• European developments
• International developments
• Dutch approach

3. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Background
• Biomass plays an important role in energy transition
– security of energy supply
– reducing greenhouse gases
– new socio-economic opportunities (e.g. in rural areas)
• However, biomass from green revolution to hot issue
– land use changes resulting in (possible) loss of biodiversity and
carbon sinks
– food security and prices
• So, development of sustainability criteria for biomass
production (for use in fuels, electricity, heating and cooling)

4. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
European developments (1)
• Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC)
including sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids
– greenhouse gas (GHG) emission saving shall be at least 35%
(and 50% as from 2017)
– raw materials shall not be obtained from land (ref. January 2008):
> with high biodiversity value (like primary forests, highly
biodiverse grasslands, areas with nature protection purpose)
> with high carbon stock (like wetlands, continuously forested
areas and peatland)
– raw materials cultivated in EU shall be obtained in accordance
with good agricultural and environmental condition => ‘cross-
compliance rules’

5. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
European developments (2)
• EC report on sustainability requirements for use of solid
and gaseous biomass sources in electricity, heating and
cooling (COM(2010)011)
– no European legal framework (yet) with sustainability criteria for
solid and gaseous biomass
– recommendations to member states who wish to implement a
sustainability scheme for solid and gaseous biomass:
> adopt sustainability criteria from RED
> do not apply GHG emission saving to waste
> adjust the GHG calculation to obtain value for total GHG emission
> only apply scheme to large energy producers: ≥ 1 MWe / MWth
> support schemes in favour of high energy conversion efficiencies

6. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
European developments (3)
• CEN/TC 383 "Sustainably produced biomass for energy
applications"
– Original scope: sustainability criteria based on "people, planet,
profit" for all types of biomass for energy applications
– Current scope: sustainability criteria limited to RED aspects
> Terminology
> Calculation of GHG emission balance using LCA
> Biodiversity (areas with nature protection purposes, highly
biodiverse non-natural grassland, peatland)
> Conformity assessment including mass balance
– Proposal to develop standards for solid and gaseous biomass
based on RED / EC recommendations (to be decided)

7. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
International developments (1)
• ISO/PC 248 "Sustainability criteria for bioenergy"
– Scope: Sustainability criteria for production, supply chain and
application of bioenergy; including terminology and aspects
related to the sustainability (e.g. environmental, social and
economic) of bioenergy
– Objectives
> Comply with national and/or regional legislation
> Respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
> Use natural resources in a rational and sustainable way
> Bioenergy from production and up to use should be sustainable
in relation to biological diversity
> Reduce GHG emissions in relation to the fossil energy source it
substitutes

8. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
International developments (2)
– Objectives (continued)
> Promote economic and social development where the
production up to use of bioenergy occurs
> Bioenergy production should be economically and financially
viable in the long term
– Final publication expected May 2014

9. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Dutch approach (1)
• Testing framework for sustainable biomass (2006-2007)
– Greenhouse gases
– Competition with food
– Biodiversity
• Establishment BIOPEC consortium in 2007 aiming at
certification system for sustainable biomass
• Certification system requires
– document with requirements for sustainable biomass production
and chain of custody => NTA 8080
– scheme with rules for certification => NTA 8081
– other documents, tools, training courses, etc.
– Environment
– Prosperity
– Social well-being

10. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Dutch approach (2)
• NEN facilitates development and management of
certification system
– standard is voluntary agreement on product, process or service
– principles: all parties concerned, transparency, consensus
– NEN is not a certification body, so independent and neutral
• NTA 8080, Sustainability criteria for biomass for energy
purposes (2008-2009) [nl & en]
– Translation of testing framework into verifiable requirements
– Taking into account small-holders and residues
– Based on continuous improvement (PDCA approach)

11. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Dutch approach (3)
• NTA 8081, Certification scheme for sustainably produced
biomass for energy purposes (2009-2010) [nl & en]
– competences of certification bodies and auditor(s)
– audit effort in man-days, method of conformity assessment &
certification criteria ('minors' & 'majors')
– assessment frequency, validity of certificate and group certification
• Certification system currently under assessment
– (Dutch) Accreditation Council for acceptance
– VROM for national recognition RED compliance
– EC for European recognition RED compliance

12. Towards global sustainability criteria for bio-energy
Thank you for your attention
NEN Scheme Ownership NTA 8080
www.nta8080.org | www.sustainable-biomass.org
E nta8080@nen.nl | T +31-15-2 690 326
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