SBP welcomes announcement of first Biomass Producer Certification

SBP has today welcomed news of the first Biomass Producer certification. NSF International (NSF), an SBP-approved Certification Body, has announced that it has certified the Aliceville, Alabama facility of US pellet producer, Westervelt Renewable Energy LLC (Westervelt).

The SBP certificate issued to Westervelt covers the manufacture of woody biomass pellets, transportation of the pellets to the Port of Mobile, Alabama and the trading of woody biomass pellets.

Commenting on the certification of Westervelt, Peter Wilson, Executive Director of SBP, said, “We are delighted at the news of Westervelt’s certification, as the first of its kind this is a landmark in the implementation of the SBP Framework”.

Under the SBP Framework the Biomass Producer, typically a pellet or wood chip mill, is the first point of certification. The Biomass Producer is assessed for compliance with the SBP requirements, specifically that the feedstock it uses, for example, roundwood, sawdust and/or wood chips, is compliant with SBP requirements – essentially that it is sourced both legally and sustainably.

That assessment must be carried out by an independent, third-party Certification Body. A Biomass Producer that satisfactorily demonstrates compliance receives a certificate and is entitled to make the claim that the biomass it produces is SBP-compliant.

NSF International becomes SBP-Approved Certification Body

SBP has today announced that NSF International (NSF) has become an ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. NSF has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification programme under the SBP Framework.

The SBP Framework of standards and processes enables Biomass Producers, typically pellet and wood chip mills, to demonstrate that they source their feedstock responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.

NSF has been approved for the certification, in Canada and the United States of America, of Biomass Producers and the biomass supply chain, for example, Biomass Producers and components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification.

Peter Wilson, Executive Director of SBP, commented, “On behalf of SBP I am pleased to confirm that NSF’s application is approved. NSF has been through a rigorous approval process, culminating in a final review and recommendation for approval by SBP’s independent Technical Committee.

“This is the second such approval of a Certification Body, and the first in North America. This progress provides a good foundation for implementation of the SBP Framework throughout the woody biomass supply chain”.

SBP consultation on draft regional risk assessments

SBP has today published draft Regional Risk Assessments for the three Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the drafts.

Regional Risk Assessments are a key part of SBP’s focus on identifying and mitigating any risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass pellet and wood chip production. The SBP Framework is designed to provide assurance that all feedstock is sourced legally and sustainably.

Feedstock certified at the forest level through FSC® or PEFC schemes and feedstock from recycled sources is automatically SBP-compliant. All other feedstock must be evaluated using a risk-based approach.

Typically, the Biomass Producer – a pellet or wood chip mill – is responsible for carrying out the risk assessment and putting in place mitigation measures to manage any specified risks such that they can be considered as controlled and hence low risk. It is the role of an independent, third-party Certification Body, approved by SBP, to check that the feedstock evaluation has been correctly undertaken.

The purpose of a Regional Risk Assessment is to evaluate an entire geographic region and determine the risks associated with sourcing feedstock for biomass pellet or wood chip production from that region. Thus, the need for individual Biomass Producers to conduct risk assessments is avoided. Further, Regional Risk Assessments are particularly valuable where statutory protection for forested land is limited.

Following a successful pilot, SBP commissioned Regional Risk Assessments for the three Baltic States. Existing FSC® risk assessments formed the basis of the Regional Risk Assessments, which were then supplemented with the additional elements required by SBP.

Peter Wilson, SBP Executive Director, commented: “Identifying and managing any risks so as to prevent illegal and unsustainable sourcing of feedstock for the production of biomass pellets and wood chips used in large scale energy production is central to the role of SBP and its Framework.

“Having successfully concluded a pilot Regional Risk Assessment in Lithuania, we extended the approach to Estonia and Latvia. We believe the Regional Risk Assessment approach provides a framework for identifying woodlands with high conservation values and safeguarding them through appropriate management strategies.

“We encourage interested parties to take part in the consultation with the aim of building on the work to date and informing the consideration of the wider adoption of the Regional Risk Assessment approach”.

The draft Regional Risk Assessments can be viewed at: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/documents/consultation-documents/draft-regional-risk-assessments. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the drafts and the Regional Risk Assessment Procedure to Melanie Wedgbury at mkwedgbury@sustainablebiomasspartnership.org by Friday, 16 October 2015.

SBP approves first Certification Body

09SBP has today announced that NEPCon has become the first ‘SBP-approved’ Certification Body. NEPCon has provided evidence that it meets the SBP requirements regarding its existing accreditations and has demonstrated sufficient resource and competence to manage the SBP certification programme under the SBP Framework.

The SBP Framework of standards and processes enables producers of woody biomass to demonstrate that they source their raw material responsibly and that it complies with the regulatory, including sustainability, requirements applicable to power generators burning woody biomass to produce energy.

NEPCon has been approved for worldwide certification of Biomass Producers, typically pellet or woodchip mills, and the biomass supply chain, for example, Biomass Producers and components of the downstream supply chain, such as trade, transport and processing that require Chain of Custody certification.

Peter Wilson, Executive Director of SBP, commented, “NEPCon has been through a rigorous approval process, which amongst other things has included the witness by SBP assessors of a NEPCon audit of a Biomass Producer and SBP’s approval of NEPCon’s audit team through training and examination. Finally, SBP’s independent Technical Committee undertook a review of the whole assessment process and confirmed a recommendation for approval. On behalf of SBP I am pleased to confirm that NEPCon’s application is approved.

“This approval marks a major step in implementing the SBP Framework throughout the woody biomass supply chain”.