PRECERTIFICATION FOR RFNBO FACILITIES
Future-Proof Your Facility: Precertification for Successful RFNBO Certification
What is RFNBO Precertification?
RFNBO precertification acts as a dry run for the full certification process, ensuring facilities are prepared for the initial audit at the start of commercial production. This comprehensive preparation combines a compliance audit by a recognized Certification Body with advisory support from a qualified external consultancy, all designed to ensure alignment with RED II requirements under the CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme.
During precertification, potential roadblocks are identified and addressed through a certification rehearsal exercise. The primary goal is to identify compliance gaps, clarify regulatory expectations, and provide a clear roadmap to reach full certification efficiently. Ideally conducted during the Pre-FEED or FEED stage, this proactive approach allows for the integration of necessary design elements from the very beginning of the project setup, preventing costly last-minute changes and ensuring a smoother path towards full RFNBO certification. It is especially valuable for projects at these stages, helping build trust with funders, offtakers, and regulatory stakeholders.
Why Undergo an RFNBO Precertification?
Precertification offers a strategic advantage, streamlining the RFNBO certification process:
Fast Track to Certification with Precertification
- Identify RED II Gaps Early: Uncover weaknesses in design, production, and supply chain to meet RED II compliance.
- Prepare for Audits Seamlessly: Enables seamless audit preparation by clarifying data sets needed for compliance (technical data, emissions calculations).
- Take Proactive Action: Enables identification of areas to improve production setup or policies, potentially aiding suppliers’ RFNBO certification.
- Avoid Expensive Delays and Reworks: Proactively identifying and addressing compliance gaps early minimizes the risk of costly major design or process changes, saving significant time and resources.
Internal Benefits
Refined Roadmap: Precertification insights help guide adjustments to your plant development plan.
Proactive Policy Engagement: Facilitates the identification of critical areas and action to address policy gaps.
Aligned Stakeholders: Facilitate internal buy-in and understanding of the certification process.
Compliance-Ready Teams: Equip operational and technical teams for success.
External Benefits
Investor Confidence: Showcase commitment to RED II-compliant RFNBO production.
Secured Funding: Strengthen applications for investments and public funding.
Commercial Advantage: Secure contracts by demonstrating commitment to RFNBO.
Supplier Support: Share best practices to help suppliers achieve their own RFNBO certification.
When Should Projects Start?
To ensure meaningful and reliable results, CertifHy RFNBO Precertification is only available to projects that have reached a minimum level of maturity.
- Finalized Pre-FEED or later (e.g., FEED): Projects at this stage are eligible automatically (requires submission of a signed Pre-FEED study).
- Started Pre-FEED: Projects at this stage may require written confirmation before moving forward. Contact for eligibility verification is advised.
- Below Pre-FEED: Projects at this stage are not eligible at this time.
These thresholds ensure that a project is mature enough to provide reliable information and benefit fully from the process.
What are the concrete outcomes
A CertifHy RFNBO Precertification equips projects with essential tools for a smoother RFNBO certification journey. These deliverables provide valuable insights and a roadmap for success:
- Precertification Report: A credibility-enhancing report that outlines a project’s strengths and potential compliance gaps. This is a useful asset for investors and offtakers.
- Audit Report from a Certification Body: An official review of a project’s alignment with RED II criteria, structured to reflect the final certification audit.
- Auditor Checklist: A detailed breakdown of how compliance was assessed across each requirement — useful for guiding future improvements.
- Practical Recommendations: Concrete suggestions to help a project move toward full certification with confidence.
These tangible deliverables provide valuable insights into the certification process and data requirements. This empowers projects to make informed decisions and streamline their path towards full RFNBO certification.
By participating in precertification, projects gain a strategic advantage and a clear path towards achieving full CertifHy EU RFNBO VS certification.
Audit vs. Precertification: What’s the Difference?
It’s important to understand how a CertifHy Audit differs from a CertifHy Precertification, so the scope of each service is clear:
| CertifHy RFNBO Audit | CertifHy RFNBO Precertification | |
|---|---|---|
|
Conducted by |
Recognized Certification Body |
Recognized Certification Body + Experienced Consultancy
|
|
Output |
Audit Report, Auditor Checklist (+ Audit Statement, if stand-alone) |
Precertification Report, Audit Report, Auditor Checklist, Practical Recommendations |
|
Advisory Support |
❌ No |
✅ Yes |
|
Suitable for |
Compliance checks |
Full project readiness and strategic preparation |
About the CertifHy Audit Statement: The CertifHy Audit Statement is issued at the end of a CertifHy RFNBO Audit performed as a stand-alone activity. It serves as formal confirmation that the audit has been carried out in accordance with CertifHy requirements and is approved by CertifHy.
A CertifHy RFNBO Audit can be performed on its own, but it primarily confirms the current level of compliance. Precertification goes further — combining the audit with practical advice to help bridge any gaps before full certification.
