SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES Verifications Scheme (SURE) starts operation.

REDcert and Bioenergy Europe have united efforts and expertise for the establishment of a new independent and credible certification system to ensure sustainable use of biomass within the energy sector

Bonn, 21 October 2020: After two years of meticulous preparation, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES Verifications Scheme (SURE) starts the operational business as of October 2020 by providing apractical solutionto all economic operators withinthe bioenergy sectorto demonstrate the sustainability of electricity and heat production from biomass. The aim of SURE is to enable all economic operators to show compliance with the legal requirements of RED II.

Under the recast Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001, mandatory sustainability criteria have been introduced for economic operators receiving support for the production of electricity or heating and cooling from biomass and biogas. The new rules come into force on 1 July 2021.However, economic operators are well advised to identify potential weaknesses in the company at an early stage and to check compliance in good time. Bioenergy Europe expects that bottlenecks may occur when thousands of economic operators simultaneously seek certification in order to fulfil their legal obligations in due time.

"The implementation of RED II means that all economic operators in the supply chain must provide proof of sustainability. We foresee a huge demand and therefore, it is our strong recommendation to the companies to start the certification process as soon as possible.” – advises Peter Jürgens, General Manager SURE. Therefore, SURE is now available as a well-balanced and practical certification system.As a full scope system, SURE provides certification for the entire supply chain and is open to agricultural and forest biomass producers, producers of biomass fuel from waste and residues, pellet producers, logistic operators, biomass fuel traders, biomass and biogas plants. This broad spectrum enables certification from a single source even for different material flows. Thereby SURE guarantees transparency and objectivity through regular checks by independent and neutral auditors.

In the next months, until SURE is recognized by the EU Commission to verify compliance with RED II,the verification scheme will run operational business on a voluntary basis to prove feasibility and to prepare the bioenergy industry for the RED II implementation. All certification bodies interested to join the scheme are invited to submit their application. First applicants among the economic operators are also expected.

About Bioenergy Europe:

Bioenergy Europe is the voice of Europeanbioenergy. With members from over 40 countries,it has been a stablecompanion for the interests ofbioenergy stakeholders for thirty years. BioenergyEurope is committed to the sustainability of thebiomass markets driven by its knowledge of therequirements and developments of the sector.

About REDcert:

REDcert was founded in 2010 to demonstrate the sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids within the

framework of the first Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EU). More than 1,300 system participants in 25 countries make REDcert one of the leading global certification systems. As a certification system recognized by the EU, REDcert contributes its many years of expertise and experience to SURE.

SUREwebsite: www.sure-system.org

22 October 2020

SURE