Proven sustainability – TÜV SÜD certifies green hydrogen and its derivatives

With the Renewable Energy Directives RED II and RED III, the European Union has introduced binding quotas for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). A key factor is proof of sustainability based on the approved certification systems CertifHy EU, ISCC EU or REDcert EU. There are a number of basic requirements for this proof, which all three systems meet. These include, for example, greenhouse gas reduction compared to conventional fuels and the use of electricity from renewable energies for the production of RFNBO.

TÜV SÜD supports companies in providing the necessary evidence. In March 2025, the certification body of TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH was recognised by the German Federal Environment Agency as a certification body for RFNBO and has since successfully completed 21 initial certifications of producers and traders according to CertifHy EU, ISCC EU and REDcert EU in Germany, Austria, France, Denmark and Chile. “This makes us the market leader in RFNBO certification,” says Klaus Nürnberger, Head of Energy Certification at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service. Further certifications for projects in Germany, Italy and Sweden are already in preparation.

Certification of green and blue hydrogen

TÜV SÜD has been a pioneer for many years when it comes to certification and the marketability of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Its activities include the development and continuous refinement of the TÜV SÜD CMS 70 GreenHydrogen standard, various collaborations with developers of hydrogen certification systems for the European market, and pre-certifications and pilot audits as part of groundbreaking project studies. In addition, the company has developed another standard for the certification of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia with TÜV SÜD CMS 77 Blue Hydrogen. So-called blue hydrogen is needed in the transition to a global hydrogen economy in order to meet the European Union’s ambitious climate targets.

For more information about the energy certification services of TÜV SÜD, please visit tuvsud.com/green-hydrogen-certification