Brussels – 29/11/2024 – The German Environment Agency (Umwelt Bundesamt, UBA) has today announced a pivotal decision to accept evidence from RFNBO (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin) certification schemes with positive technical assessments from the European Commission. This decision marks a transformative moment for the hydrogen certification market across Europe and is set to unlock significant opportunities for certified producers.
Under the new framework, any production plant certified by schemes such as the CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme can immediately issue Proofs of Sustainability (POS) that are recognized and tradable in Germany. This recognition is a major step forward for the RFNBO market and paves the way for producers to benefit from incentives like the GHG quota system (THG Quote) in Germany.
A New Chapter for RFNBO Markets
For the first time, producers and users can obtain RFNBO certification under a scheme currently undergoing formal recognition by the European Commission and access financial support mechanisms enabled by RFNBO utilization. Already established production and distribution facilities, in particular, stand to benefit significantly from this development, as they can count on the financial incentives associated with RFNBOs, such as the German Emissions Trading Scheme (THG quota).
CertifHy’s EU RFNBO Scheme, the only pure player for hydrogen and e-fuels which has already received a positive technical assessment from the European Commission, is uniquely positioned to support producers and users in meeting the regulatory requirements and gaining market access.
Building Momentum Across Europe
This announcement sends a clear message: the certification systems are ready. Companies must act swiftly to prepare for certification, ensuring they are among the first to reap the benefits of a certified RFNBO market. Furthermore, this milestone brings Europe closer to a fully functioning RFNBO market, as the European Commission aims to finalize decisions on voluntary scheme recognitions by the end of the year.
CertifHy invites producers to explore the advantages of certification and position themselves at the forefront of this rapidly evolving market.
About CertifHy: CertifHy is a frontrunner in the realm of renewable hydrogen and e-fuels’ certification, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to empower stakeholders engaged in the energy transition. It operates two schemes — the CertifHy EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) Voluntary Scheme and the CertifHy Non-Governmental Certificate (NGC) Scheme — which aim to verify the sustainability and origin of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives. CertifHy also offers pre-certification, which familiarizes companies with the data collection and documentation process required for official certification, and an in-house learning platform — CertifHy Academy — to equip Economic Operators and Certification Bodies with the expertise needed to navigate the complex landscape of hydrogen certification. It fosters collaboration through its Stakeholder Platform, which invites representatives of the industry, government, and academia to shape the future development of hydrogen certification systems. Together, CertifHy’s robust certification schemes and knowledge-building resources pave the way for a cleaner energy future. For more information, visit www.certifhy.eu
For more information, contact:
Sebastien Galand – sebastien.galand@certifhy.eu
