Germany is preparing to expand sustainability certification requirements for solid biomass power plants with a total thermal input of 7.5–20 MW under its national implementation of the European Union’s revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
The updated Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance (BioSt-NachV) will extend supply-chain sustainability verification obligations to a broader group of biomass facilities. Operators that fail to meet the applicable certification requirements risk losing eligibility for support payments under Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), according to the supplied source material.
Germany’s cabinet decision on the revised ordinance is scheduled for 28 October 2026. The regulation is due to take effect on the day after its publication in the Federal Law Gazette, with compliance required from that effective date, subject to a limited transitional arrangement for operators unable to obtain certification because of insufficient certification-body availability.
RED III Brings More Biomass Plants Within Certification Requirements
The revised BioSt-NachV implements sustainability provisions associated with RED III in Germany and extends the obligation to demonstrate sustainability across the biomass supply chain to additional solid biomass installations.
The newly covered capacity range is 7.5–20 MW of total thermal input, a distinction that matters when determining whether an installation falls within the regulation’s scope. Thermal input should not be confused with electrical generating capacity.
Under the updated framework, operators and relevant supply-chain participants will need to demonstrate compliance with applicable sustainability requirements through an accepted certification system.
For affected plants, certification is not simply an administrative exercise. Failure to satisfy the requirements could affect eligibility for EEG support payments, creating a direct financial incentive to establish compliant documentation and verification procedures.
The final legal obligations and implementation details should be checked against the published ordinance once it is formally adopted.
Transitional Arrangements Depend on Certification Availability
The revised regulation is expected to apply from the day after its publication in the Federal Law Gazette. However, the supplied information identifies a transitional provision for operators that can demonstrate that insufficient availability of certification bodies was the sole reason they could not comply.
This exception appears narrowly framed. Operators should not assume that general delays, incomplete documentation or a failure to begin certification preparations will qualify for transitional treatment.
The practical implications will depend on the final ordinance’s wording and the evidence required to establish that certification-body availability was the sole obstacle. Operators should therefore confirm the applicable conditions with their certification provider and review the final legal text before relying on an exemption.
BBE and Biomass Advisors Offer SURE Certification Training
Germany’s Federal Bioenergy Association (BBE) is organising training sessions with consultancy Biomass Advisors to help companies prepare for the revised requirements.
The sessions are intended for operators and suppliers serving plants with a thermal input of 7.5–20 MW, as well as existing SURE participants across the biomass supply chain.
Training is offered quarterly. According to the supplied announcement, the next session is scheduled for 24 November 2026, with another planned for the first quarter of 2027.
For operators that have not previously needed certification under the expanded rules, the sessions could help identify documentation gaps and clarify the steps required to demonstrate compliance. Existing certificate holders may also need to review whether their current arrangements cover the expanded regulatory scope.
Bioenergy Business Analysis
Germany’s planned expansion of biomass sustainability certification requirements highlights a growing regulatory priority in Europe’s bioenergy sector demonstrating not only that biomass is renewable, but also that it meets the applicable sustainability criteria throughout its supply chain.
For affected operators, the main commercial risk is the potential loss of EEG support payments if certification requirements are not met. This could make certification readiness a financial and operational priority, particularly for smaller facilities that have limited compliance resources or rely on external suppliers for sustainability documentation.
The expanded rules could also increase the importance of recognised sustainability certification systems, including SURE, among biomass suppliers and power plant operators. However, the scale of any cost increase or effect on biomass supply cannot be established from the supplied information.
The wider significance for Europe’s bioenergy market is that regulatory compliance is increasingly integral to maintaining access to policy support. For biomass power operators, securing a sustainable feedstock supply will need to be matched by the ability to demonstrate that sustainability through recognised verification procedures.
