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 ( 2 ) lay down rules for the

Official Journal of the European Union

EN
L series

2024/3180

20.12.2024

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2024/3180
of 19 December 2024

on the recognition of the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme for demonstrating compliance with the requirements for renewable fuels of non-biological origin set out in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council
(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources ( 1 ) , and in particular Article 30(4) and (5) thereof,

Whereas:

(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 ( 2 ) 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) 2023/1185 ( 3 ) 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 global geographic coverage and encompasses the entire chain of custody.

(5)

The ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme complies with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 ( 4 ) . 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,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1
The ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme, submitted for recognition to the Commission on 25 July 2024, demonstrates compliance of consignments of renewable fuels of non-biological origin with Article 27(6), first to fourth subparagraphs of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184.
The voluntary scheme, referred to in first paragraph of this Article, provides accurate data on greenhouse gas emission savings of renewable fuels of non-biological origin for the purpose of Article 29a(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and is in line with the methodology set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185.

Article 2
Where the contents of the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme, as submitted for recognition to the Commission on 25 July 2024, change in a way that might affect the grounds of this Decision, the ‘CertifHy’ voluntary scheme shall notify to the Commission such changes without delay.
The Commission shall assess the notified changes with a view to establishing whether the scheme still adequately covers the elements under Article 1 of this Decisions for which it is recognised.

Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
It shall apply until 21 December 2029.

Done at Brussels, 19 December 2024.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN

( 1 )
OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2018/2001/oj .

( 2 ) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1184 of 10 February 2023 supplementing Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a Union methodology setting out detailed rules for the production of renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin ( OJ L 157, 20.6.2023, p. 11 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/1184/oj ).

( 3 ) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1185 of 10 February 2023 supplementing Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a minimum threshold for greenhouse gas emissions savings of recycled carbon fuels and by specifying a methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin and from recycled carbon fuels ( OJ L 157, 20.6.2023, p. 20 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/1185/oj ).

( 4 ) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 of 14 June 2022 on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria and low indirect land-use change-risk criteria ( OJ L 168, 27.6.2022, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/996/oj ).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/3180/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)