BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsbeslutningen)

(1) Directive (EU) 2018/2001 lays down requirements for certain fuels, namely biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels, renewable fuels of non-biological origin and recycled carbon fuels, to ensure that they can only be counted towards the targets set in that Directive if they have been sustainably produced and save significant greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. Article 27(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 as well as Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184 lay down rules for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin from renewable electricity. Article 29a(1) and (2) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 lays down greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, and for recycled carbon fuels. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/11853 lays down rules specifying the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable fuels of non-biological origin and from recycled carbon fuels. Article 31a(2) of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 requires economic operators to enter information in a Union database on the transactions made and on the sustainability characteristics of renewable fuels and recycled carbon fuels. 

(2) Voluntary schemes play an important role in providing evidence of compliance with the sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions savings criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. Under Directive (EU) 2018/2001, voluntary schemes can be used to (i) certify the compliance of all fuels produced from biomass with the sustainability criteria laid down in that Directive; and (ii) provide accurate data on their greenhouse gas emissions savings. In addition, voluntary schemes can be used to certify compliance of renewable fuels of non-biological origin and recycled carbon fuels with their greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria set out in Article 29a of that Directive applying the methodology set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185 and to prove compliance with Article 27(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184 regarding the calculation of the share of renewable electricity used to produce renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Voluntary schemes can also be used to prove that economic operators enter accurate information into the Union or national database on some renewable fuels and recycled carbon fuels in accordance with Article 31a(2) and (5) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The Commission may decide that voluntary national or international schemes can serve all or some of these purposes. 

(3) On 14 August 2023 the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme submitted a request to the Commission for recognition pursuant to Article 30(4) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 as regards compliance with the rules for renewable fuels of non-biological origin, as set out in that Directive and the relevant Commission Delegated Regulations. The Commission assessed that scheme and identified some issues requiring amendment. In its resubmission of 25 July 2024, the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme correctly addressed the issues and the Commission found that the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme adequately covers the rules set out in Article 27(6) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184 for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin and provides accurate data on greenhouse gas emissions savings of renewable fuels of non-biological origin for the purposes of Article 29a(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and is in line with the methodology set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185.

(4) The ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme covers all types of renewable fuels of non-biological origin. It has a global geographic coverage and encompasses the entire chain of custody.

(5) The ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme complies with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996. The assessment of the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme found that it meets adequate standards of reliability, transparency and independent auditing and complies with the methodological requirements set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185. 

(6) The information that the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme has been recognised should be made available in the section on the Commission’s Europa website devoted to voluntary schemes. 

(7) To allow for prompt application of the measures provided for herein, this Decision should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(8) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels,