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”.

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 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 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.

SBP has today welcomed news of Europe’s first Biomass Producer certification. NEPCon, an SBP-approved Certification Body, has announced that it has certified Latvian pellet producer, SBE Latvia.

The SBP certificate issued to SBE Latvia covers the use of FSC^®-certified feedstock only. SBE Latvia also holds FSC^® Chain of Custody certification.

Commenting on the certification of SBE Latvia, Peter Wilson, Executive Director of SBP, said: “We welcome news of SBE Latvia’s certification. The use of FSC^®-certified feedstock has played a key role in enabling the Biomass Producer to meet SBP’s sustainability requirements and has facilitated its route to SBP certification”.

Under the SBP Framework the Biomass Producer, typically a pellet or woodchip 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.

The Certification Body, BM TRADA Certification Ltd, was accepted as an applicant for ‘SBP-approved Certification Body’ status in November 2014.

It is an SBP requirement that a reduction in scope or suspension of a relevant accreditation, such as for FSC® or PEFC, by another accreditation body leads to the suspension of an SBP approval.

On 25 September 2015, Accreditation Services International (ASI) announced a suspension of BM TRADA Certification Ltd’s accreditation to undertake FSC® Chain of Custody certification in Latvia, Germany, Lithuania, Finland, Belarus, Estonia and Russia.

Consequently, BM TRADA Certification Ltd no longer meets SBP’s requirements and the SBP approval process has been suspended.

UK energy regulator, Ofgem, has today published a summary of the results of its benchmarking exercise of voluntary schemes against the UK’s Renewables Obligation land criteria for woody biomass. The SBP Framework has been evaluated and found to be fully compliant with the legislation. The summary of results can be found in Ofgem’s updated Renewables Obligation: Sustainability Criteria document.

Peter Wilson, SBP Executive Director, commented: “It is excellent news that Ofgem’s benchmarking exercise has found the SBP Framework to be fully compliant with the UK’s legislation on the legality and sustainability of woody biomass used in energy production.

“This firmly establishes SBP and its Framework as an effective certification scheme for biomass users to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. The Framework is already recognised in Denmark through the Danish Energy Agreement, and is undergoing evaluation in Belgium and The Netherlands”.

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.

Under the SBP Framework 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. That assessment is 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.

The Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) has today announced the appointment of Carsten Huljus as its new, full time Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Huljus, currently Managing Director of GFA Certification, will take up the appointment on 1 May 2016. He brings with him a wealth of experience and detailed understanding of forest management and chain of custody certification schemes.

Following the launch of the SBP Framework in March 2015 the remainder of last year focused on the Framework’s implementation. The appointment of SBP’s first, full time CEO marks the transition of SBP into a fully operational entity. Joining SBP at this important time in its development, Mr Huljus will be responsible for the leadership and management of SBP, including engagement with its many stakeholders, such as biomass supply chain actors, policy makers and environmental NGOs.

The current Executive Director, Peter Wilson, will take up the new post of Standards Director with continued technical input from Simon Armstrong & Associates.

Thomas Dalsgaard, Executive Vice President of DONG Energy and SBP Board Member, who led the search and selection process on behalf of the SBP Board, commented: “I am delighted that Carsten has accepted the role of CEO. SBP has a critical role to play in ensuring the legality and sustainability of woody biomass used in large scale energy production and I believe Carsten is the right person to drive this agenda forward”.

Welcoming Mr Huljus to the role, Dorothy Thompson, Group Chief Executive of Drax and Chairman of SBP, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Carsten as CEO of SBP. My fellow Board members and I look forward to working with him at this exciting time in the development of the organisation”.

Also commenting on the appointment, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Chair of the Advisory Board to SBP said: “The appointment of Carsten will strengthen the work of the Advisory Board in its delivery of knowledge-based advice to SBP as the Advisory Board prepares for its second meeting, which is to be held in April 2016.”

Carsten Huljus commented: “I am very much looking forward to my role as the new CEO of SBP. The organisation has achieved so much in a very short period of time and I am pleased to be in a position to influence its further development over the coming years. All stakeholders need the assurance that the bioenergy sector is acting responsibly and to that end my aim is to ensure that SBP and its Framework are both robust and credible”.

SBP has today published the draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1. Interested parties are invited to provide written comments on the draft.

Draft Instruction Document 5A v1.1 can be viewed here. Interested parties are asked to tabulate their responses into three columns headed: Section Number; Comments; and Suggested Solution. All written comments should be sent to Melanie Wedgbury at mkwedgbury@sustainablebiomasspartnership.org by the close of business on Monday, 4 April 2016.

SBP has today published two proposed fee schedules, which will be effective from 1 October 2016.

The first fee schedule is applicable to Certification Bodies and covers the fees associated with Certification Body approval and the review of a Certification Body’s certification decision in relation to applications for SBP certification.

The second is applicable to Certificate Holders, which include Biomass Producers, typically wood pellet and wood chip producers, and any entity taking legal ownership of SBP-certified biomass and selling that biomass with an SBP claim, typically biomass traders. These fees will cover the wider costs of administering and developing the SBP Framework.

SBP is a not-for-profit organisation. It is proposed that fees will be charged to Certification Bodies and Certificate Holders to cover those administrative costs of running the SBP Framework and developing the scheme that are not already met by membership fees.

Both the proposed fee schedules may be viewed at: http://www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org/sbp-framework/fee-schedules