EU RFNBO hydrogen certification and market development

The certification process for Renewable Fuels of Non-Biologic Origin (RFNBO) is transitioning into an operational phase. Following delays due to the lack of recognized certification systems, the European Commission officially recognized three systems—ISCC, REDcert, and Certifhy—in December 2024. This recognition enables the formal accounting of hydrogen production toward greenhouse gas reduction quotas, making 2025 the first full certification year for producers in the hydrogen quota market.

Building on this regulatory framework, Nobian and Air Products have established a long-term agreement for the offtake of RFNBO-compliant hydrogen. The hydrogen is produced at Nobian’s Rotterdam facility, which became the first large-scale European renewable hydrogen producer to receive ISCC EU certification for RFNBO in 2025. Air Products intends to use its distribution network to supply this certified hydrogen to industrial customers and fuel suppliers, assisting them in meeting European Union Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) requirements.