Comply with EU requirements for renewable energies: TÜV NORD CERT certifies your processes in accordance with RED III.
The Renewable Energy Directive RED III (EU) 2023/2413 came into force at EU level on November 20, 2023, replacing RED II. The implementation of the RED III requirements into national law is taking place gradually in Germany, including through existing regulations such as the Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance (BioSt-NachV), which is currently still based on the requirements of RED II and will continue to be applied until it is amended.
According to the directive, “economic operators” are obliged to provide transparent and traceable evidence of the entire production and supply chain of solid, liquid and gaseous biomass, from the cultivation of the biomass to its conversion in electricity and heat generation plants. This can only be achieved through independent certification systems such as REDcert EU, ISCC EU and SURE. REDcert and SURE are the most important certification systems for biogas/biomethane plants.
The Renewable Energy Directive RED III (EU) 2023/2413 further tightens the sustainability requirements for bioenergy already introduced under RED II and expands their scope of application. While RED II included solid, gaseous, and forestry biomass in the sustainability requirements for the first time, RED III specifies and expands these regulations, particularly with regard to climate protection, land protection, and transparency along the supply chain.
One of the key innovations of RED III is the extension of greenhouse gas reduction requirements to existing bioenergy plants. In future, depending on the type of plant, output, and year of commissioning, existing plants for electricity, heat, and cooling generation from biomass will also have to demonstrate the specified minimum reductions of 70% or 80%. In addition, greenhouse gas certification will be extended to cover the entire supply chain, so that all economic operators will be required to determine and document their emissions.
In addition, RED III tightens the sustainability requirements for biomass production, especially for forestry biomass. New exclusion areas (“no-go areas”) and additional requirements for the protection of biodiversity and carbon sinks are intended to ensure that the use of biomass for energy does not have a negative impact on ecosystems. The requirements for land protection and biodiversity conservation are also being further specified for agricultural biomass.
With RED III, the EU is providing for a staggered transition period for certain existing installations, after which the stricter greenhouse gas reduction obligations will not apply in full until December 31, 2030. Until then, the previous RED II requirements for proving GHG reductions will continue to apply in many cases; only after that will the full RED III GHG criteria have to be proven, provided they have been implemented nationally.
Overall, RED III thus strengthens the ecological quality of bioenergy, increases the requirements for verification and control, and ensures further harmonization of sustainability standards within the EU.
TÜV NORD CERT is an internationally recognised and reliable partner for testing and certification services. Our experts and auditors have in-depth knowledge and are always permanently employed by TÜV NORD. This guarantees independence and neutrality as well as continuity in the support of our customers. The advantage for you is obvious: our auditors accompany and support the development of your company and give you objective feedback.