REDcert-EU certification – proof of sustainability for biofuels

What is REDcert-EU?

REDcert is a voluntary certification system that can be used to prove that the sustainability criteria for the production of biofuels and fuels from biomass required by the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (2018/2001/EC – RED II) and in the future the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (2023/2413 – RED III) are met. The RED III aims to increase the share of renewable energies in final consumption within the EU to 42.5 percent by 2030. REDcert is an association-supported certification system and recognized by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) and the European Commission.

GFA Certification GmbH has been approved by the BLE since 2024 and has since been certified according to the REDcert standard in the field of sustainable biofuels with the highest requirements for quality and integrity. Certification according to REDcert-EU is currently only possible for locations in the European Union and selected third countries.

For whom is REDcert-EU relevant?

The production of renewable energies and fuels from biomass is gaining in importance worldwide. For the European biofuels market, the EU created binding requirements for the sustainable production and processing of biomass in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED, 2009/28/EC) and its revision (RED II, 2018/2001/EC and RED III, 2023/2413).

Biofuels made from palm oil, rapeseed, sugar beet, cereals or waste and residues (e.g. used cooking oil) account for the largest share of biofuels traded in Europe. In particular, interfaces such as farms and collection points, initial collectors, land traders, conversion plants, suppliers and warehouses are obliged to be certified according to REDcert-EU.

What are the advantages of REDcert-EU certification?

Since RED II (in the future RED III) explicitly promotes the use of energy from renewable sources, the share of bioenergy to cover our energy needs will increase significantly in the future. Voluntary certification systems such as REDcert are considered an objective and reliable way to prove compliance with the sustainability criteria set out in the RED II / RED III.

REDcert-EU certification therefore gives economic operators easy access to the European biofuels market and linked subsidies. In this way, they ensure the sustainable expansion of new sources of raw materials and help our society one step further on the path to greater responsibility for our future.

What does GFA Certification offer and how does the combination of REDcert-EU with other certification systems work?

In principle, all EU-recognized certification systems (SURE, etc.) also recognize each other. For biogas upgrading plants (BGAA) that produce biomethane for the fuel market as well as for the generation of electricity and heat, double certification according to REDcert and SURE may be necessary under certain circumstances. However, this only applies if there is a CHP plant at the same location that produces electricity and heat. In this case, the BGAA would have to be certified according to REDcert for fuel production, but the CHP plant would have to be certified according to SURE.

Due to reduced membership costs in both systems and only slightly increased audit effort, combined audits according to REDcert and SURE are cost-effective. We would be happy to provide you with an individual offer for REDcert certification or answer your open questions.

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Important steps for the REDcert certification

1. Registration REDcert (for companies not yet certified)

   – Registration under www.redcert.org
   – Verification of registered data by REDcert
   – Conclusion of a contract between the company and REDcert
   – Confirmation of participation from REDcert

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2. Initial information

   – Company fills out GFA questionnaire
   – If necessary, clarification of further details and open questions
   – GFA evaluates information

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3. Offer & Order

   – Preparation of an offer by the GFA
   – Placing an order by the company

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4. Implementation by the company

   – Preparation of the necessary system documentation
   – Implementation of the procedures

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5. Main audit

   – System audit by GFA auditor (if necessary, checks at suppliers)
   – Presentation of audit results and discussion of corrective measures
   – Certification decision by GFA
   – Remedy any major deviations identified by the company

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6. Certificate

   – Issuance and dispatch of the certificate by the GFA
   – Registration of the certificate with REDcert and BLE by the GFA
   – Surveillance audit after six months (or three months for certain WaR plants)

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7. Recertification before 12 months

   – Implementation of the recertification audit

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Sabrina Koch

Tel.: +49 40 5247431 130 oder  +49 151 15056621

Email.: bioenergie@gfa-cert.com