If you want to use solid biomass for the production of electricity and heat and use the Sustainable Energy Production Incentive (SDE++) subsidy, you must be able to demonstrate that the biomass meets the legal sustainability requirements that apply.

However, you do not always have to demonstrate that the biomass used meets the sustainability requirements. This obligation only applies to the following categories:

  1. Co-firing of biomass in coal-fired power stations
  2. A boiler ≥ 5 MW steam from wood pellets
  3. A wood pellet burner ≥ 5 MWth and ≤ 100 MWe
  4. A wood pellet boiler for district heating (new in 2019)

Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) have a role in demonstrating sustainability. They can perform 3 types of work:

  1. Issuing a certificate to market parties in accordance with a certification scheme that has been fully or partially approved by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Claims/declarations of conformity arising from such a scheme may be used to demonstrate conformity with the legal sustainability requirements. This work takes place within the framework of the relevant certification scheme;
  2. Issuing a verification statement to a market party in accordance with the requirements of the verification protocol for sustainability of solid biomass for energy applications with the aim of demonstrating compliance with (part of) the legal sustainability requirements;
  3. Issuing a year of compliance declaration to an energy producer, in accordance with the requirements of the verification protocol for sustainability of solid biomass for energy applications. This statement is required to obtain an SDE+ subsidy for the proven portion of sustainably produced electricity and/or heat.

The supervision of this private system of guaranteeing sustainability and therefore also of the performance of work by CBIs is the responsibility of the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa).

Only certification schemes that have been (fully or partially) approved by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) can be used to demonstrate the sustainability of the biomass.

The Advisory Committee on Sustainability of Biomass for Energy Applications (ADBE) advises the minister on approving certification schemes. On the ADBE website you will also find more information about the advice procedure. The advice procedure is an important part of the approval.

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