Biofuels and bioliquids

The certificate of sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids guarantees the reliability of both the information that demonstrates compliance with sustainability criteria, and the environmental and social information provided by economic operators within the production chain.
The main aspects of the verification are the system of traceability and mass balance, and a calculation of GHG emissions.
This certification offers several advantages, including:

• access to tax incentives

For biofuels certified as sustainable:

• contribute to the achievement of the EU greenhouse gas emissions cutting targets
• greater competitiveness on the market.

Legal Framework

The European Union, with the Climate-Energy Package in 2019, set the goal of increasing energy efficiency by 20 per cent, reducing greenhouse gases by 20 per cent and increasing the use of renewable energy sources by 20 per cent by 2020 (10 per cent in the transport sector). In 2018, the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (RED II) set a 2030 target for renewable energy sources of 32% (14% in the transport sector), linked to a 40% greenhouse gas reduction target. In line with the European Green Deal that set a 2050 climate neutrality target for Europe, RED II is already being revised with increasingly ambitious targets.

Certification Procedure

RINA provides certification services in accordance with:

• Italian National Biofuels and Bioliquids Sustainability Certification System (“Sistema Nazionale di Certificazione della sostenibilità dei biocarburanti e dei bioliquidi”), established by the Decree dated 14 November 2019 “National certification system for biofuels and bioliquids” issued by the Minister of the Environment and for Protection of the Land and Sea, in conjunction with the Minister for Economic Development and the Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies

and in accordance with voluntary schemes:

• ISCC EU, a German initiative, managed by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification
• 2BSvs, a French initiative managed by the 2BS Consortium.

The certificates of conformity issued according to the National Scheme and according to 2BSvs are valid for five years, their maintenance is subject to periodic audits.
The certificates of conformity issued according to ISCC EU are valid for one year.

Why RINA?

RINA holds:

• ACCREDIA accreditation (Certificate No 002B) for the Italian National Biofuels and Bioliquids Sustainability Certification System,
• agreement with ISCC for International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC EU),
• agreement with 2BS for “2BSvs” 

Q&A

Which environmental objectives does the service refer to?
The EU Climate Energy Package 20-20-20 aims to increase energy efficiency by 20% by 2020, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, and to increase renewable energy use by 20%. In the transport sector, at least 10% of the energy used will have to come from renewable sources.