Presentación realizada por Peter Wilson, Director ejecutivo de Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP), en el 10º Congreso Internacional de Bioenergía "Retos de la biomasa hacia 2020" (2015) Acceso al vídeo en el canal de AVEBIOM en youtube en este link https://youtu.be/9zbhrlwkqLA?list=PLiI9QXKYMxh06h-WnlG7007bUkwPg6sKV

1. Sustainability certification
system for biomass suppliers
Peter Wilson
Executive Director, Sustainable Biomass Partnership

2. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
Outline
•The sustainability challenge for large-scale users of woody biomass for heat &
power generation in EU countries
•A sector solution
•Progress
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3. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
The sustainability challenge
•To tackle global warming, EU generators are encouraged by the EU and national governments to switch from
fossil fuels to renewable feedstock.
•Financial incentives are provided so that generators can compete with conventional fuels such as coal and gas
but this support is contingent on generators demonstrating that feedstock is legally and sustainably sourced
•The definition of sustainability for woody biomass varies between EU Member States
•SBP recognises the credibility of existing forest certification schemes (FSC/PEFC) and does not wish to
compete with or replicate them
•If FSC or PEFC could meet sector needs we would not need SBP standards
•But these forest-level schemes have insufficient take-up in key forest-source areas and lack some of the key
elements needed for biomass on greenhouse gas data so a bridging solution is required.
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4. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
SBP is building the European industry’s solution
Seven major players using woody biomass for large-scale heat and power generation in the
European Union (BE, DK, NL, UK) came together to find a solution.
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5. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
SBP vision and objectives (2015-16)
Vision
An economically, environmental and socially sustainable solid biomass supply chain that contributes to a low-carbon economy.
Objectives
•To provide an effective mechanism that enables producers and users of solid (woody) biomass for energy production to
demonstrate compliance with European/national regulatory, including sustainability, requirements
•To increase supply chain transparency by collecting and disseminating performance data
•To promote sustainable forest management practice and greater uptake of existing forest certification schemes in key forest
source areas or wood baskets
•To contribute to a strengthened scientific evidence base and a greater understanding of the issues associated with the use of
solid biomass for energy production.
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6. Focusing on sustainable sourcing solutions.
SBP governance structure
Advisory
Board
Advises Board
Advisory
Board
Advises Board
Standards
Development &
Management Group
(AFDG)
Member representatives
Standards
Development &
Management Group
(AFDG)
Member representatives
SBP company:
Incorporated as not-for-
profit UK company.
SBP Board:
Directors from member
companies - key decision-
making body.
SBP company:
Incorporated as not-for-
profit UK company.
SBP Board:
Directors from member
companies - key decision-
making body.
Working Groups
•Communications
•Transparency
Working Groups
•Communications
•Transparency
Secretariat
(Consultants)
Secretariat
(Consultants)
Liaison Fora
Biomass Producers
Certification Bodies
Regulators
Liaison Fora
Biomass Producers
Certification Bodies
Regulators
Impartial Technical CommitteeImpartial Technical Committee

7. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
Progress to date
SBP has:
•Developed SBP Framework standards which are based on regulatory requirements, use a risk-based approach and are aligned as
closely as possible with FSC and PEFC standards and processes, while seeking to work with these schemes and key stakeholders
•Sought an ongoing dialogue and collaboration with FSC and PEFC to enable both schemes to provide alternative solutions that
allow Biomass Producers and users fully to meet their regulatory, including sustainability, requirements. PEFC has established a
working group to develop a GHG module to carry data along a PEFC chain of custody
•Looked at how to encourage stakeholder initiatives both to improve sustainable forest management practices and to increase
uptake of FSC and PEFC certification in some key forest source areas or wood baskets. This has included exploring the concept of
a Wood Basket Partnership Fund
•A working group is considering how to increase supply-chain transparency by collecting and disseminating aggregated
performance data.
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8. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
SBP Framework – Geographical scope
•Applies to source areas globally and is ‘open access’
•Specifically designed for woody biomass being supplied to European market
•Aligns with national regulatory requirements to cover all those countries in
which SBP member companies operate generating plants using woody
biomass (BE, DK, NL, UK) – this could expand.
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9. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
SBP Framework - development challenges
Aim
•Providing a solution for regulators, for example, Danish industry agreement based on SBP approach
Hitting a moving target
•Lack of confirmed EU or national standards, so need to work with what is available
•Therefore, regulatory compliance demonstrated using the most comprehensive and stringent national
requirements:
– Legality from EU Timber Regulation
– Sustainable Forest Management criteria based on UK Government’s Timber Procurement Policy
(CPET Category B) requirements plus NL criteria
– Chain of Custody based on existing concepts (FSC/PEFC/SFI)
– Energy and carbon balance data to be carried along supply chain – meeting Belgian requirements
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10. Focusing on sustainable sourcing solutions.
Primary
Feedstock
Tertiary
Feedstock
Secondary
Feedstock
SBP Framework - Scope of certification

11. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
SBP Framework - Key concepts in summary
•The SBP Framework comprises standards, structures, systems and processes
•Makes maximum use of FSC and PEFC and complements where necessary
– Addresses specific biomass issues
– Can be used in areas with limited uptake of FSC/PEFC certification
•Independent third-party certification
•SBP certifies four components: sustainable feedstock, chain of custody, energy and carbon data collection and communication,
and energy and carbon balance calculation
•Risk-based approach for non-certified feedstock
– Central role for pellet mill, FSC ‘Controlled Wood’ PLUS approach
– Supply Base Evaluation / Regional Risk Assessment
•Stakeholder input in Supply Base Evaluation and certification processes
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12. Focusing on sustainable sourcing solutions.
Regional Risk Assessment
Desk-based assessment against SBP-criteria – results in a risk rating for each
indicator
+
Supplier Verification Programme
Field-based assessment for those indicators for which no clear risk can be
determined in Regional Risk Assessment
LegalityLegality EcosystemsEcosystems EnvironmentEnvironment ProductivityProductivity SocialSocial BiodiversityBiodiversity CarbonCarbon
Supply Base Evaluation
Principles derived from UK Timber Procurement Policy, including other relevant criteria
Supply Base Evaluation
Principles derived from UK Timber Procurement Policy, including other relevant criteria
Low Risk Criteria
No further action needed
Specified Risk Criteria
Implement mitigation measures
Compliance
PEFC/FSC-certified
feedstock
PEFC/FSC-certified
feedstock
The certification concept – a risk-based approach

13. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
Six Standards available on www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org
1.Feedstock Compliance Standard: The principles, criteria and indicators defining the management
system needed to verify that feedstock is legal and sustainable
2.Verification of SBP-compliant Feedstock: The method for the evaluation of the risk associated
with feedstock
3.Certification Systems: The requirements on Certification Bodies in verifying compliance by SBP
certificate holders
4.Chain of Custody
5.Collection and Communication of Data: Methodology for collection and communication of data
along the supply chain
6.Energy and Carbon Balance Calculation: Requirements on generators for energy and carbon
balance calculations
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14. Focusing on sustainable sourcing solutions.
Primary
Feedstock
Tertiary
Feedstock
Secondary
Feedstock
SBP Framework: Scheme architecture, structure, process and procedures
Certification Systems Standard
The certification framework
Data Collection and
Communication Standard
Feedstock Compliance Standard and
Verification of SBP-compliant Feedstock
Energy and Carbon Balance
Calculation Standard

15. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
Review of SBP Framework development milestones
•Work started – Summer 2013
•Draft Standards - stakeholder consultation and engagement (March 2014)
•SBP response to key issues identified (September 2014)
•Version 0.0 ‘beta Standards’ published for final testing (September 2014)
•Sector road-testing certification – Certification Bodies and Biomass Producers (October-December 2014)
•Further refinement took place to:
– Take account of learnings from test certification
– Align with emerging regulatory requirements (especially NL)
– Address stakeholder issues
•Version 1.0 standards published – EC launch (March 2015)
•SBP Regional Risk Assessment concept piloted in Lithuania – extended to other Baltic states
•Work ongoing with PEFC to develop energy and carbon balance data module for use in PEFC Chain of Custody
•9 Certification Bodies have applicant status and are progressing towards SBP-approved status
•NEPCon is first SBP-approved certification body
•First biomass producer certification announcements imminent
•Strong pipeline of audits
•Draft Regional Risk Assessments out for consultation last week.
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16. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
Going forward
•Further refinement and strengthening
•Advisory Board being established - chair: Julia Marton-Lefèvre
•Key aim is to more effectively embrace a wider group of stakeholders, for example, resource owners,
BPs and NGOs in development of Version 2.0.
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17. Sustainability certification system for biomass suppliers
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Gracias!
• Peter Wilson
• Sustainable Biomass Partnership
• info@sustainablebiomasspartnership.org
• www.sustainablebiomasspartnership.org