Committees
Technical Committee
The Technical Committee promotes ongoing dialogue with relevant stakeholders—especially economic operators—and advises the SURE-EU scheme on all matters relating to the technical implementation of the legal criteria. It ensures that the procedures and requirements are practical, comprehensible, and legally compliant. The committee is composed of independent industry representatives and their deputies and brings together expertise from different areas to ensure the comprehensive functionality of the system. It represents three key areas: biomass generation and production, fuel production and trade, and plant operation. Through this structured composition, the Technical Committee ensures that the SURE-EU scheme remains technically robust, practical, and future-oriented. It forms a central interface between the legal requirements and operational implementation in the economy.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Consulting: The Technical Committee advises the SURE-EU scheme on the implementation of legal criteria (Renewable Energy Directive) and provides practical answers to technical questions from the market.
- Validation: It reviews the system documents and methodology of the SURE-EU scheme from the perspective of experienced industry representatives from all relevant areas of the value chain.
- Working methods: The rules of procedure govern the working methods of the committee and contain clear procedures for consultation and conflict resolution.
- Participation: The management is obliged to involve the committee in technically relevant decisions and to justify any deviations from its recommendations to the shareholders.
Requirements for members
The members have in-depth specialist knowledge and technical and professional experience in all economic sectors covered by the certification system. They are familiar with the requirements of the SURE-EU scheme and other relevant certification systems (e.g., quality, environmental, or energy management).
The committee meets as needed, but at least twice a year.
Excerpt from the membership list
| Name | Company | Function | Short Profile (Motivation / Expertise) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrik Bauer | Brüning Group | Team Leader Corporate Development (Certification & Regulation) | Bachelor in Green Business Management, Master in Corporate Management, focus on sustainable growth and high standards. |
| Irene Carrascón Iglesias | ENCE | Sustainability Manager (Agroforestry, Sustainability) | Forester with >20 years of experience, responsible for sustainability requirements in biomass supply chains, experience in international standardization committees. |
| Sara Casimiro-Soriguer Baum | SACYR | Head of Biomass Technical Management | Agricultural engineer, expert in biomass logistics, quality management and supply chain certification (CoC FSC & PEFC), experience with RED I & RED II. |
| Rens Hartkamp (Vice-Chair) | BiomassConsult | Expert in forest certification, development of new certification systems | M.Sc. Forest certification, PhD sustainable forest development, experience with FSC, ENplus, SBP, and RED II implementation. |
| Mario Klobucar | Wird noch aktualisiert | To be updated | - |
| Anna-Liisa Myllynen | Stora Enso | Manager Sustainable Wood | M.Sc. Forest sciences, experience with sustainable forestry, ISO management systems, and biomass certification. |
| Didzis Palejs | LATbio | Expert in energy wood production, procurement, logistics and trade | Over 23 years of experience in the energy wood industry and agri-biomass, knowledge of biomass trading and business management. |
| Rainer Schrägle | TECHNOLOGICA GmbH | Consultant for Quality Management, Bioenergy and Recycling | Graduate agricultural scientist, expert in circular economy, bioenergy and wood recycling, lecturer at Rottenburg University of Applied Sciences. |
| Sylwia Senczyszyn | Holzkontor und Pelletierwerk Schwedt GmbH | Managing Director Holzkontor und Pelletierwerk Schwedt GmbH | Over 15 years of experience in the biomass business, expertise in pellet production, international trade and certification processes. |
| Marija Slaidina (Chair) | GREN Latvija | Manager Environment, Occupational Safety and Quality, GHG ETS Auditor | Multiple Master's degrees, experience in emissions trading, environmental management and biomass sustainability, management of certification processes. |
| Leon Wagener | Arcanum Energy | Project Manager Green Gases, Team Leader Sustainability Certification | M.Sc. Bio-based products and bioenergy, 6 years of experience in sustainability certification and renewable energies, specialist in the biogas sector. |
Sanction Committee
The Sanctions Advisory Board was established to impose appropriate sanctions in the event of violations by system participants, thereby maintaining the integrity and credibility of the certification system. It carefully reviews all reported violations and ensures that decisions are made fairly, transparently, and comprehensibly. In doing so, the Advisory Board follows the established rules and procedures of the SURE-EU scheme. In addition, the Sanctions Advisory Board acts as an independent body that minimizes potential conflicts of interest and guarantees equal treatment of all participants.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Review of violations & sanctions: The advisory board carefully reviews reported violations and makes informed decisions about appropriate sanctions.
- Implementation of system principles: It ensures that integrity management guidelines are consistently applied and adhered to.
- Technical and legal correctness: The advisory board ensures that all procedures are carried out in a technically sound and legally compliant manner.
- Independence & conflicts of interest: The members act independently and avoid conflicts of interest thanks to their many years of experience and neutrality.
- Chair& legal certainty: The chairperson, a qualified lawyer, ensures transparent and legally sound decision-making.
Requirements for members
To participate in the Sanctions Advisory Board, the following requirements must be met:
- Many years of experience in the bioenergy sector
- Independent action without conflicts of interest arising from current or previous activities
- Technical qualifications
- Chairperson with legal qualifications as a lawyer with judicial competence
- Ability to make technically sound and legally sound decisions
Members of the Sanctions Advisory Board
- Dr. Heinz Kopetz
Former President of the World Biomass Association (WBA) and the European Biomass Association (BE) - Kurt Pillmann (Chair)
Lawyer and former President of the Bonn Regional Court - Dr. Till Vogel
Lawyer and former lecturer in international business law at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
National Supporting Bodies (NSB)
The National Supporting Bodies (NSBs) act as national points of contact and support the implementation of the SURE-EU scheme at the local level. They ensure that the scheme requirements are clearly communicated and correctly applied in their respective countries. Thanks to their proximity to the markets and their linguistic and regulatory expertise, the NSBs make a decisive contribution to the dissemination and acceptance of sustainable biomass certification. They facilitate dialogue between companies, certification bodies, and authorities and promote a uniform understanding of the system standards. In addition, the NSBs support the training of participants, answer questions about the application of the criteria, and actively contribute to the further development of the SURE-EU scheme through feedback from practice. In this way, they form a central bridge between the European regulatory framework and national implementation.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Consulting & support: NSB are the first point of contact for system users with questions about certification, use of the UDB database, or implementation of legal requirements such as the Renewable Energy Directive in its current form.
- Communication & public relations: They represent the SURE-EU scheme at national events, produce information materials in the national language, and promote contact with market players.
- Training & knowledge transfer: NSB conduct training courses and help to communicate complex requirements in an understandable way.
- Feedback & further development: They pass on feedback from the market to SURE, thereby contributing to the continuous improvement of the scheme.
- Representation: NSB officially represent SURE-EU in their country and ensure a consistent external image.
- Quality assurance: They document their activities transparently and work closely with SURE headquarters.
- Responsibility: NSB commit to complying with communication guidelines and actively participating in strategic developments.
Requirements for NSB
To work as an NSB, certain requirements must be met:
- Technical expertise in the field of sustainable biomass and certification
- Knowledge of national legislation and market structures
- Strong communication skills and a good network in the industry
- Availability for training, events, and support
- Commitment to quality and further development
List of NSB
| GERMANY | |
| Bundesverband Bionergie e.V. (BBE) /Fachverband Holzenergie Servatiusstraße 53 53175 Bonn Contact person: Mr. Gerolf Bücheler Phone: +49 (0) 303 2758 179-21 E-Mail: buecheler[at]bioenergie.de Homepage: www.bioenergie.de |  |
| Fachverband Biogas e.V. Angerbrunnenstraße 12 85356 Freising Contact person: Dr. Stefan Rauh Phone: +49 (0) 8161 9846804 E-mail: stefan.rauh[at]biogas.orgHomepage: www.biogas.org |  |
| GREECE | |
| Hellenic Biomass Association (HellaBiom) 150 Andrea Papandreou Av. GR-16561 Glyfada, Attica Contact person: Mr. Nikos Damatis Phone: +30 210 9652 031 E-mail: secretary[at]hellabiom.gr Homepage: www.hellabiom.gr |  |
| IRELAND | |
| Irish Bioenergy Association DCU Alpha, Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11. Contact person: Mr. Noel Gavigan Phone: +353 (0) 87 68 45 977 E-mail: noel.gavigan[at]irbea.com Homepage: www.irbea.org |  |
| LATVIA | |
| Latvian Biomass Association LATbio Skaistkalnes street 1 Riga, LV-1004 Contact person: Ms. Beāte Paleja Phone: +371 293 400 32 E-mail:beate[at]latbio.lv Homepage: www.latbio.lv |  |
| LITHUANIA | |
| Lithuanian Biomass Energy Association - LITBIOMA Ukmergės str. 283 B06313 Vilnius Contact person: Ms. Agnė Babelytė Phone: +370 (0) 61628381 E-mail: sertifikavimas[at]biokuras.lt Homepage: www.biokuras.lt |  |
| NAMIBIA | |
| Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG) 5 of Braun Street, Southern Industrial Area Windhoek Contact person: Mr. Daniel Shagama Phone: +264 (0) 61 242949 E-mail: d.shagama[at]n-big.org Homepage: www.n-big.org |  |
| AUSTRIA | |
| Austrian Biomass Association Franz Josefs-Kai 13/4 1010 Vienna Contact person: Dr. Christoph Rosenberger Phone: +43 1 533 07 97 E-mail: rosenberger[at]biomasseverband.at Homepage: https://www.biomasseverband.at |  |
| SPAIN | |
| Asociación Española de Valorización Energética de la Biomasa (AVEBIOM) c/ San Blas 14, esc. Dcha., entreplanta 47003 Valladolid Contact person: Mr. Pablo Rodero Masdemont Phone: +34 (0) 983 113 760 E-mail: pablorodero[at]avebiom.lt Homepage: www.avebiom.org |  |
| CZECH REPUBLIC / SLOVAKIA | |
| CZ Biom – České sdružení pro biomasu, z.s. Drnovská 507 161 00 Praha 6 Contact person: Mr. Jan Habart Phone: +420 (0) 603 273 672 E-mail: habart[at]biom.cz Website: https://czbiom.cz/ |  |
