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SURE Certification

  • Proof of compliance with BioSt-NachV and EEG requirements
  • Independent SURE certification with expert auditing

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For Sustainable Energy from Biomass

Renewable energies are playing an increasingly important role in the energy mix, but they also face a growing number of additional requirements. With the introduction of the Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance (BioSt-NachV), certification is now mandatory for, among others:

  • Biogas plants with a thermal capacity of 2 MW or more
  • Biomass CHP plants with a thermal capacity of 20 MW or more, or 7.5 MW or more once RED III is transposed into national law

Would you like to receive remuneration under the EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act), or are you currently receiving it? Have you made your CHP plant more flexible, causing it to exceed the 2 MW threshold? If so, valid certification is required.

Normec guides you impartially and reliably through the entire process, drawing on our many years of practical experience and a thorough review of your documents and processes.

What is SURE?

SURE (Sustainable Resources Verification Scheme) is a voluntary certification system for verifying the sustainability of biomass used to generate electricity, heat, or combined heat and power. The system is recognized by the European Commission and is used primarily in Germany, but can also be applied in other countries.

The certification serves as proof to grid operators, market partners, and other stakeholders that the statutory sustainability criteria are being met.

Securing Your Electricity Revenue

With SURE certification, you demonstrate that your company meets all statutory sustainability requirements. The certificate is a prerequisite for receiving electricity payments and serves as proof to your grid operator and other market participants.

What is assessed in the SURE system?

  • Sustainable origin of the biomass

    The raw materials used must comply with the sustainability criteria of the BioSt NachV. These include, among other things, land protection and cultivation requirements, as well as the exclusion of certain land types.

  • Traceability and mass balance

    Supply chains must be fully documented. A traceable mass balance ensures that input and output quantities, as well as suppliers, can be clearly identified.

  • Quality and Documentation Systems

    Appropriate internal procedures are required to ensure compliance with system requirements, including responsibilities, records, and control mechanisms.

  • GHG Calculations

    Depending on your facility’s commissioning date, you must provide evidence of greenhouse gas calculations or CO2 reductions.

Independent Audits and Recognized Expertise

As an independent and accredited certification body, Normec conducts SURE audits based on the SURE system principles.

Our services include, among others:

  • Conducting initial, surveillance, and recertification audits
  • Verification of mass balance and traceability
  • Verification of greenhouse gas calculations in accordance with SURE guidelines
  • Issuance of REDcert certificates and annual recertifications

Certification is conducted in a neutral and transparent manner, based on the applicable system rules.

To ensure the reliability of our assessments, we are regularly audited—in this area, by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE).

This way, you can be confident in a thorough and independent process.

Tested, certified, future-proof

A certificate is official proof that your company meets all requirements. During the process, you’ll receive targeted feedback. If any nonconformities are identified, you’ll have the opportunity to correct them within the specified timeframe.

If all deadlines are met and requirements are fulfilled, the certificate is issued as formal proof of compliance. Annual recertification is required to maintain this status. A combined audit with REDcert is possible.

In this way, we work together continuously toward future-proof energy production.

Would you like to learn more about SURE certification?

Frequently Asked Questions

For biogas plants with a thermal input of 2 MW or more and biomass CHP plants with a thermal input of 20 MW or more (or 7.5 MW or more once RED III has been transposed into national law). In other words, it is the installed capacity that is relevant here, not the rated capacity. However, please feel free to contact us regarding other areas as well.

This depends on the complexity of your organisation and the availability of documentation. Please do get in touch if you have any specific questions.

You will receive a non-conformity report and be given the opportunity to implement corrective actions within the specified timeframe.

Yes, suppliers can be included through group certification under certain conditions. This saves time and costs.

Yes, certification can be carried out in conjunction with REDcert. We would be happy to advise you on the best approach.

Yes. Certification usually involves on-site audits at the relevant locations as well as supplementary document reviews.