CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme – Certification Process

Initial certification is the first full certification under the CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme and is valid for up to 12 months, depending on the plant’s evaluated risk profile.

Practical recommendation: Economic Operators are advised to begin preparation for their initial certification under the CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme 4 to 6 months before the planned audit date. Early preparation helps minimize the overall time to certification and reduces the risk of delays.

The process works as follows:

1. The Economic Operator registers with CertifHy and signs the scheme agreement.
2. The operator selects a Cooperating Certification Body from the official list.
3. The Certification Body and the operator conclude an audit agreement, enabling the auditor to start the initial audit.
4. The initial audit is always conducted on-site. It involves a comprehensive review of documentation, GHG calculations, energy sourcing evidence (including electricity sourcing records for RFNBO projects), traceability systems, physical installation, and other applicable compliance criteria.

If successful, the operator receives a certificate and can begin issuing Proofs of Sustainability (PoS) — declarations by the Economic Operator, based on the certificate, attesting to the compliance of a specific quantity of hydrogen with the applicable sustainability and GHG criteria. PoS are issued per quantity of product sold and must be recorded in the European Union Database, ensuring full traceability through the supply chain.(insert following footnote: “In practice, the full recording of Proofs of Sustainability in the Union Database is not yet operational. This functionality will become available once the system is fully deployed.”

All certificates are published in CertifHy’s public Certificates Database for full transparency.

Please note that certificates issued under the CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme apply to specific plants, rather than to quantities produced. Proofs of Sustainability, by contrast, are issued per consignment and are the primary instrument through which buyers can verify the origin and compliance of the RFNBO or Low-Carbon hydrogen they purchase.

If major non-conformities are identified during the audit, they must be addressed before certification can be granted.

After the first 12-month period, the initial certificate expires and Economic Operators must undergo recertification (annual surveillance audit) to maintain their certification under the CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme.

Recertification verifies continued compliance, reviews production data from the previous period, and updates the certificate for the next 12 months. Audits may be conducted on-site or off-site depending on the plant’s risk profile.

We strongly encourage Economic Operators to initiate the recertification process well in advance of their certificate expiry date to ensure continuity of certification and avoid any interruption in their ability to issue Proofs of Sustainability.

Step 1 – Preparing the Audit

Gather and organise evidence covering the past 12 months, including GHG calculations, energy sourcing records (including electricity sourcing records for RFNBO projects), mass balance documentation and Union Database entries. Engage your cooperating Certification Body early to agree on the audit schedule.

Step 2 – During the Audit

The Certification Body conducts its review on-site or off-site, depending on the plant’s risk profile. Any non-conformities identified must be addressed. The Economic Operator defines and submits corrective action measures, which are evaluated and approved by the auditor.

Step 3 – After the Audit

• If successful, CertifHy publishes the valid certificate on its website.
• If the audit is not passed, the operator should consult the scheme documents and their Certification Body to understand the applicable timeframes and possible consequences.
• Ongoing audits must continue according to the agreed schedule to ensure the certificate remains valid.