Unique expertise
You’ve spent years working on green hydrogen production and are ready for the final, crucial step: obtaining official EU certification. It turns out that there is only one organization in the Netherlands that has the authority and expertise to review the certification application and subsequently audit and certify it.
“If you aspire to be among the most sustainable companies in your sector, you’ll have to take a stand. That’s especially true for chemical companies. We’ve been active in salt mining since 1918. That means we have nearly 110 years of experience with a raw material that is indispensable to society and the energy transition. We convert salt into essential chemicals needed for the production of many everyday materials, from soap and cardboard to degreasers, medicines, and solar panels. And we use salt—through electrolysis—to produce hydrogen. Through salt extraction, electrochemistry, and the development of energy storage capacity, we are contributing to the energy transition—and thereby to a sustainable society.”
Greener Together
“Part of our green ambitions—articulated in our sustainability program ‘Grow Greener Together’—is the production of RFNBO-certified hydrogen. This acronym stands for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin. Official EU certification was necessary to demonstrate compliance with market requirements. To achieve this, our application to the ISCC—the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification scheme—had to be verified by an accredited auditor. As of early 2025, Normec QS was the only certification body in the Netherlands authorized to do so. So we joined forces, and a very interesting journey began for both of us.
There is, in fact, a difference between the certification schemes on paper—based on European legislation—and the reality of a large-scale facility. To give an example: part of the certification audit involves verifying the calibrations of measuring instruments. This shows how our equipment performs relative to the reference standard. However, we cannot calibrate our electrolyzer—the very heart of hydrogen production. It is delivered with a specific level of accuracy, and that’s it. How do you deal with that? Normec QS’s solution-oriented approach, our discussions with them, and the consultations Normec QS held with the ISCC: I found it all very interesting and constructive.
What I also appreciated was the package Normec QS offered. The certification process was divided into a pre-audit followed by the official audit. Thanks to the frequent and open communication during the pre-audit—during which we were able to address situations like the one described above in accordance with the certification scheme’s requirements—the official audit to obtain certification was a mere formality. All of this culminated in our factory in Rotterdam obtaining the desired certification. This makes Nobian the first European, large-scale producer of certified green hydrogen with ISCC EU certification for RFNBOs.
Pioneer
“When we announced the news about our certification, we received positive reactions from all quarters. There was also surprise that a Dutch producer had succeeded in producing sustainable hydrogen that meets the criteria. Now the key is to make the applications of our RFNBO hydrogen known to the market. Because although there are many opinions about hydrogen, it is—provided it’s produced sustainably—a wonderful alternative for industry, for heavy-duty logistics equipment, and for energy storage. We owe our success in reaching this marketing phase in part to the support of Normec QS. It shows just how incredibly important it is to have knowledgeable partners. Together with Jorn and his team, we’ve taken a major step forward—for Nobian and for the entire value chain.”
"It shows just how incredibly important it is to have knowledgeable partners. Together with Jorn and his team, we’ve taken a major step forward—for Nobian and for the entire value chain."
— Julien Courtois, Manager Product Development Hydrogen Nobian
The First Certificate
Jorn Bronsvoort, Technical Director at Normec QS, explains: “Normec QS has been actively developing expertise in European legislation and certification requirements for green hydrogen and RFNBOs for several years now. In recent years, on behalf of the Dutch government (RvO), we have conducted several pilot projects to assess the practical feasibility of the developed audit system for companies. This has led to the issuance of the first certificate for such large-scale green hydrogen production and, consequently, to Normec QS’s position as a market leader in this sector. The collaboration with Nobian throughout the audit process was excellent. The team that oversaw the audit was not only highly professional but also very knowledgeable about the certification requirements. The result? A pleasant and efficient collaboration for all parties involved.'
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