Certify accredits three firms to validate whether green hydrogen production qualifies as RFNBO

Certify accredits three firms to validate whether green hydrogen production qualifies as RFNBO

Trio will be able to carry out detailed audits that result in an official RFNBO certificate, necessary for access to subsidies

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der LeyenPhoto: Dati Bendo/European Commission

Rachel Parkes

Deputy Editor

Published 26 March 2025, 13:59

Industry-backed verification programme CertifHy has granted official accreditation to three technical inspection companies, allowing them to validate whether green hydrogen production has met the EU’s strict requirements.

Green hydrogen produced or sold in the EU must qualify as a renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) in order to access subsidies or favourable regulation, and CertifHy is one of three official bodies accredited by the EU to check or verify that this is the case.

Yesterday (Tuesday) CertifHy granted official recognition to Belgian certification firm Vinçotte, Munich-based TÜV SÜD and Cologne-based TÜV Rheinland to allow them to carry out audits that will result in an official RFNBO validation.

L to R: Navjit Gill (Country Head, Gentari India), Sushil Purohit (CEO, Gentari), Michele Azalbert (Chief Hydrogen Officer, Gentari), Mahesh Kolli (Group President, AM Green), Shahrul Yassin (Head of Commercial, Gentari India), and Kian Min Low (Chief Renewables Officer, Gentari).

This would take the form of a CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme Certificate, which can be used to prove the RFNBO status of green hydrogen molecules.

“This is a pivotal moment for the RFNBO sector,” said Matthieu Boisson, managing director at CertifHy. “The recognition of TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland and Vinçotte signifies the readiness of the market to embrace robust and reliable certification, ensuring the integrity and transparency of sustainable hydrogen production.”

RFNBOs must have been produced according to the rules laid out in the EU’s Delegated Act on the matter, which includes the “additionality” requirement to use only electricity from renewable power plants that are less than three years old.

Electrolyser operation must also be matched with real-time electricity generation on a monthly aggregate basis until 2030, at which point the rules will expect hourly matching.

CertifHy, backed by the public-private Clean Hydrogen Partnership, had its technical programme approved by the European Commission in September 2024, and was officially recognised by the EU as an official accreditation body in December.

In addition to carrying out RFNBO audits, the three companies recognised by CertifHy yesterday will also be able provide green hydrogen producers with detailed reports and recommendations.

“CertifHy is committed to empowering auditors with the resources and expertise they need to navigate the evolving landscape of hydrogen and e-fuels certification,” added Pierre Krenn, scheme manager at CertifHy. “We work closely with certification bodies to streamline processes, mitigate risks, and ensure audits that are fair, efficient, and provide insightful feedback.”

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