Technical Report. Implementation of the International Center for Renewable Energy-Biogas: Recommendations to Obtain International Accreditation

Transcription

1 United Nations Industrial Development Organization Observatory for Renewable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean Technical Report Implementation of the International Center for Renewable Energy-Biogas: Recommendations to Obtain International Accreditation August 2012

2 Content 1. Introduction UNIDO s International Technology Centers International Voluntary Standards International Standard Organization ISO ISO 9000 Quality management ISO General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories ISO Other ISO Standards Network Formation and Information Exchange The Laboratory Network Inititative (Labnet) Joint Committee for the coordination of technical assistance to Developing Countries in Metrology, Accreditation and Standardization (JCDCMAS) International Biogas & Bioenergy Center of Expertise (IBBK) European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machine (ENTAM) The European Biogas Initiative (EU-AGRO-BIOGA) Final Comments and Recommendations... 11

3 1. Introduction The main goal of the International Center for Renewable Energy-Biogas (ICRE-Biogas) is to promote the development of biogas as a product of high aggregated value, obtained from the anaerobic digestion of organic residues and effluents from livestock and agroindustry. Its purpose is to become an international reference center providing benchmarking information and solutions as well as state-of-the-art technical and scientific data for all the biogas value chain in an international range. To do so, it was identified four main areas of action: Provision of international and national technical assistance; Development and management of the Biogas Laboratory; Capacity building; and Monitoring of a network of demonstration units. The objective of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with regards to the setup of an International Center for Renewable Energy focused on Biogas (ICRE-Biogas) is to have an international reference structure capable to promote the awareness about biogas in the whole world as an energy source and to provide access to data, information and technical guiding for the development of renewable energy sources with a focus on biogas. To receive UNIDO s official support, one must adhere to and comply with minimum quality standards as well as benchmarking practices. Moreover, in order to fulfill with its mission as an international center, the adherence by the ICRE-Biogas to international standards facilitates the process of technology transfer. Therefore, this report aims to provide guidance on actions to be conducted by the ICRE- Biogas in order to achieve these goals. The present report was developed by a group of UNIDO experts in close consultation with several branches within UNIDO Headquarters as well as with the support of the Observatory for Renewable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Firstly, it is presented the main voluntary international standards relevant to the ICRE- Biogas activities. Secondly, it is suggested that the ICRE-Biogas forms networks with relevant international institutions in order to exchange knowledge and information (e.g. exchange of information concerning test results, comparison of technical, economic and environmental data related to the biogas production chain as well as new technology developments). 2. UNIDO s International Technology Centers International Technology Centers (ITCs) act as catalysts in the modernization of technology, promote the management of technological changes, focusing on the 1

4 commercialization and industrial application of new technologies and innovations both in developed and developing countries. ITCs serve as a global forum and support international industrial cooperation. The initial purpose of these centers was to increase awareness of developing countries of new technologies, ensuring access of scientists in these countries to applied research and development, as well as their training in new technologies. In the new context of international competition, technological centers and their networks are a link between research in science and commercialization of new technologies on an industrial scale. ITCs are a mechanism that links technology development with investment opportunities and creation of new industries through international cooperation, establishment of business relationships and forming strategic partnerships. As a development agency with a clear mandate to provide technical assistance in the area of industrial development, UNIDO has to maintain its reputation and assure that the highest quality standards are delivered in its activities through the development of state-of-the-art solutions and benchmarking technologies. One way to prove the achievement of such quality standards is trough the obtainment of standards certification. Although certification is not a requirement, organizations and companies must get certified by an international standard organization due to the currently market exigencies. Therefore, the best reason for wanting to implement standards is to answer costumer s demands and preferences. Moreover, a company or an organization may decide to seek certification for many reasons, as certification may: Be a contractual or regulatory requirement; Be a must to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations; Fall within the context of a risk management programme; and Help motivate staff by setting a clear goal for the development of its management system. With UNIDO s official support, an ITC obtains a broad visibility. Therefore, it is advisable that an ITC obtains proof from nationally and internationally recognized institutions that their products and services conform to requirements regarding to product and services quality, safety, health and environmental impacts. Accreditation by an internationally recognized standardization organization guarantees that the proposed solutions (products and services) delivered by an ITC is in consonance with international benchmarking and high standards. As an International Center, it is expected that the International Center for Renewable Energy-Biogas complies with international standards and best practices related to its areas of activity. 3. International Voluntary Standards A standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body, that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their 2

5 purpose. Therefore, it aims at the achievement of the optimum degree of order for activities or their results in a given context. Standards may be classified in numerous ways. One way of classifying them is by how they are developed: At the national level, government standards, often called technical regulations, are developed and promulgated by Federal, State, and local agencies to address health and safety concerns. Technical regulations differentiate from the rest, as they are by law mandatory. International voluntary standards are developed and disseminated by international governmental and non-governmental standards development organizations by, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Codex Alimentarius. Although the Standards developed by these organizations are voluntary, they are not considered private because they are prepared by the international standardization community and are based on international consensus among member bodies, which are governmental, parastatal or nongovernmental. 3.1 International Standard Organization ISO ISO International Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality. They are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimizing waste and errors and increasing productivity. They help companies and organizations to access new markets, level the playing field for developing countries and guarantee minimum quality standards and the application of best practices. Some of ISO s most well-known standards are management system standards. They provide a model to follow when setting up and operating a management system. These standards are the result of international, expert consensus. Therefore, by implementing a management system standard, organizations can benefit from global management experience and good practice. These standards can be applied to any organization, large or small, whatever its product or service and regardless of its sector of activity. All ISO's management system standards are based on the principle of continual improvement. An organization or company assesses its current situation, fixes objectives and develops policy, implements actions to meet these objectives and then measures the results. With this information, the effectiveness of the policy and the actions taken to achieve it can be continually reviewed and improved ISO 9000 Quality management The ISO 9000 Quality management family represents an international consensus on good quality management practices. It consists of standards and guidelines relating to quality management systems and related supporting standards, addressing various aspects of quality management. 3

6 The standards provide guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer s requirements and that quality is consistently improved. There are many standards in the ISO 9000 family, including: ISO 9001:2008 Sets out the requirements of a quality management system. ISO 9000:2005 Covers the basic concepts and language. ISO 9004:2009 Focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective. The ISO 9001:2008 sets out the criteria for a quality management system and is the only standard in the family that can be certified to (although this is not a requirement). It can be used by any organization, large or small, regardless of its field of activity. The standard is based on a number of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, the process approach and continual improvement. Using ISO 9001:2008 helps ensure that customers get consistent, good quality products and services, which in turn brings many business benefits. Figure 1 presents the ISO 9001:2008 Certificate of Registration of UNIDO s International Center for Advancement of Manufacturing Technology ICAMT. 4

7 Figure 1 ICAMT s ISO 9001:2008 Certificate of Registration Source: UNIDO-ICAMT, 2012 ( 5

8 3.1.2 ISO General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories The ISO17025 is the main ISO standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. This standard has many commonalities with the ISO 9000 standard. However, ISSO adds in the concept of competence to the equation, being applied directly to those organizations that produce testing and calibration results. The standard was first published in 1999 and on 2005 a reviewed standard was issued. The most significant changes introduced greater emphasis on the responsibilities of senior management, and explicit requirements for continual improvement of the management system itself, and particularly, communication with the customer. The ISO standard comprises five elements that are: Scope; Normative References; Terms and Definitions; Management Requirements; and Technical Requirements. The two main sections in ISO are Management Requirements and Technical Requirements. Management requirements are primarily related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system within the laboratory. Technical requirements include factors which determine the correctness and reliability of the tests and calibrations performed in laboratory. Laboratories use ISO to implement a quality system aimed at improving their ability to consistently produce valid results. It is also the basis for accreditation from an accreditation body. Since the standard is about competence, accreditation is simply formal recognition of a demonstration of that competence. A prerequisite for a laboratory to become accredited is to have a documented quality mamagement system. The usual contents of the quality manual follow the outline of the ISO/IEC standard. To be accredited, a laboratory has to implement all the requirements of ISO One of these is that it establishes and maintains a documented management system covering the requirements of the standard, both for its own use and to demonstrate its policies and practices to other parties. This system includes a quality manual (as the peak document of the system) and other related documentation that may be cross-referenced in the quality manual. This documentation shows how all the requirements of the standard are implemented. Such a documented system is a pre-requisite for accreditation. The compliance with ISO means that the laboratory operates a quality management system according to the principles of ISO Moreover, the ISO standard covers the technical proficiency requirement that is not covered by the ISO 9001 standard. 6

9 In Brazil, the laboratory accreditation is made by Inmetro s Divisão de Acreditação de Laboratórios (Dicla), which performs the activities related to the accreditation s concession and maintenance according to the requisites of the ISO 1705 standard. This standard is applicable to laboratories that perform tests of biological, microbiological, chemical and biophysical products, among others ISO The ISO family specifies generic requirements and provides guidance for the management of measurement processes and metrological confirmation of measuring equipment used to support and demonstrate compliance with metrological requirements. It specifies quality management requirements of a measurement management system that can be used by an organization performing measurements as part of the overall management system as well as to ensure metrological requirements are met. ISO 10012:2003 is not intended to be used as a requisite for demonstrating conformance with ISSO 9001, ISO or any other standard. Rather, the ISO 10012:2003 can be used as an input for satisfying measurement management system requirements in certification activities. The ISO 10012:2003 applies to testing laboratories, including those providing a calibration service; suppliers of products or services; and other organizations where measurement is used to demonstrate compliance with specified requirements. However, ISO 10012:2003 is not intended to be a substitute for, or an addition to the requirements of ISO Other ISO Standards ISO Environmental Management The ISO family of standards addresses various aspects of environmental management including: labelling, performance evaluation, life cycle analysis, communication and auditing. The ISO family addresses various aspects of environmental management. It provides practical tools for companies and organizations looking to identify and control their environmental impact and constantly improve their environmental performance. ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 focus on environmental management systems. The other standards in the family focus on specific environmental aspects such as life cycle analysis, communication and auditing. ISO 14001:2004 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and can be certified to. It does not state requirements for environmental performance, but maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective environmental management system. It can be used by any organization regardless of its activity or sector. Using ISO 14001:2004 can provide assurance to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved. 7

10 The benefits of using ISO 14001:2004 can include: Reduced cost of waste management Savings in consumption of energy and materials Lower distribution costs Improved corporate image among regulators, customers and the public ISO Risk management This family sets out standards for the management of risks that are applicable to any type of organization in the public or private sector. Risks affecting organizations can have consequences in terms of economic performance and professional reputation, as well as environmental, safety and societal outcomes. Therefore, managing risk effectively helps organizations to perform well in an environment full of uncertainty. ISO 31000:2009, Risk management Principles and guidelines, provides principles, framework and a process for managing risk. It can be used by any organization regardless of its size, activity or sector. Using ISO can help organizations increase the likelihood of achieving objectives, improve the identification of opportunities and threats and effectively allocate and use resources for risk treatment. However, ISO cannot be used for certification purposes. Similarly to the ISSO 26000:2010 (provides best practices regarding social resposibility), it provides guidance for internal or external audit programmes rather than requirements, so it cannot be certified to unlike some other ISO standards. Organizations using it can compare their risk management practices with an internationally recognised benchmark, providing sound principles for effective management and corporate governance ISO Energy Management System This standard family is based on the management system model of continual improvement also used for other well-known standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO This makes it easier for organizations to integrate energy management into their overall efforts to improve quality and environmental management. It supports organizations in all sectors to use energy more efficiently, through the development of an energy management system (EnMS). ISO 50001:2011 provides a framework of requirements for organizations to: Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use Measure the results Review how well the policy works, and Continually improve energy management ISO Guidelines for internal and external management system audits 8

11 Audits are a vital part of ISO's management system approach as they enable the company or organization to check how far their achievements meet their objectives. External audits also play a role in showing conformity to the standard. In order to help the auditing of these standards, particularly for companies implementing more than one management system standard, ISO has released ISO 19011:2011. This standard provides specific guidance on internal and external management system audits. 4. Network Formation and Information Exchange In order to work with state-of-the-art research activities and technology developments, the ICRE-Biogas should be in close tune with the international specialized body working with the biogas subject throughout the world. New technological developments, standardization of process and tests, comparison of results and parameters can only be achieved through the exchange of information with other parties working with the same subject. For this reason, it is recommended that the ICRE-Biogas searches partners throughout the world to form and to integrate a network of specialized institutions. Following, a list of networks, international centers and laboratories is provided in order to present potential partners for the ICRE-Biogas. 4.1 The Laboratory Network Inititative (Labnet) Together with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO), UNIDO has created an Internet-based portal for laboratory development called LABNET. LABNET is a content-rich, interactive and collaborative portal to disseminate information and to guide developing country laboratories at every stage from planning to accreditation. The web based tool will help to share lessons from different countries, including case studies and Best practices in laboratory management, layout and design. Additionally, it contains a guide for the accreditation process, technical requirements for laboratory development, references to relevant organizations and on-line documents, information about training programmes, job opportunities and a discussion forum. More information can be found at: Joint Committee for the coordination of technical assistance to Developing Countries in Metrology, Accreditation and Standardization (JCDCMAS) JCDCMAS is a network on metrology, accreditation and standardization for Developing Countries. Its mission is to build technical infrastructures to support sustainable development and trade in developing countries and countries in transition trough the provision of assistance and information related to standards and accreditation. JCDCMAS is formed by the following members: 9

12 Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) International Accreditation Forum (IAF) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) International Trade Centre UNCTAD / WTO (ITC) Telecommunication Standardization Bureau of ITU (ITU-T) International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) More information can be found at: International Biogas & Bioenergy Center of Expertise (IBBK) The International Biogas and Bioenergy Centre of Competence (IBBK) is a combination and network of experts and companies, as well as groups of interest and educational institutes in the field of biogas and bioenergy based in Germany. The work of the IBBK covers regional, national and international activities. The Center of Competence is setting up an additional impulse beyond the traditional lobby work and is striving to cover the growing demand for independent, neutral dissemination of information in the field of biogas and bioenergy. The main emphasis is in educational and project work. IBBK staff have long term experience with farm biogas plants. Their early experiences range back to the early eighties where in southern Germany a do it yourself concept for pioneering farms has been developed. Since that time IBBK staff members have long term experiences in conducting economic modeling, design and planning studies as well as organizing and conducting training courses for operators of agricultural and agri-food based biogas systems. Consulting Work and Trainings have been carried out on national and international level since 2001 on a regular basis aiming at providing the target groups with substantial information on all aspects concerning a biogas project. IBBK's main target group has mainly been farmers, e.g. operators and soon-to-be operators of biogas plants, but also consultants, government staff, representatives of banks/ funding institutions and staff from engineering companies. Besides its own knowledge on biogas IBBK's strength is to combine theory with practical knowledge and to find strong partners with profound knowledge on a specific subject as know how back up within the regional, national and international network Aims and activities of the IBBK: Creation of an information and exhibition platform for manufacturers, traders, industry and operators; Promotion of the international technology exchange through link up and arrangement of national and international business contacts; Development of feasibility studies and consultancies on Biogas and Bioenergy utilization; 10

13 Starting and participation in national and international projects for research and dissemination of biogas and bioenergy; Planning and holding of qualifying training courses, seminars and conferences about biogas and bioenergy for operators, manufacturers, technicians, and farmers; Support, evaluation and dissemination of scientific researches and practical experiences for operators and manufacturers of biogas and bioenergy plants. Active dissemination of information through printed, as well as audio visual publications related to the subject, e.g. market analysis, feasibility studies, press articles, consulting; and Organization and maintenance of an extensive biogas reference library. More information can be found at: European Network for Testing of Agricultural Machine (ENTAM) ENTAM is the network constituted by the official testing stations in those European countries which have signed an agreement on shared activities. These activities have, as their ultimate aim, the implementation of standardised tests of the performance, safety and environmental aspects of agricultural machinery and tools. At the manufacturer s request, tests are carried out by specialist Testing Stations. The tests are based on national, European or international standards, or shared agreements (or methodologies), and can provide the manufacturer with useful information on ways in which to improve its machinery. The results may be issued as test reports published by the Testing Stations, which work in partnership with ENTAM in a consolidated effort to overcome existing barriers. As such, applying for and obtaining the ENTAM mark on the reports is a way of confirming not only that the manufacturer works to international standards but also that all applicable regulatory requirements have been met, thus allowing the farmer to make an informed choice when purchasing new machinery. More information can be found at: The European Biogas Initiative (EU-AGRO-BIOGAS) The EU-AGRO-BIOGAS project provides a series of reports that deals with benchmarking and best practices concerning agriculcultral biogas plants. Moreover, it also set up an online database compiling information on different feedstock. Currently, more than 1800 data sets on more than 200 different feedstocks are available. More information can be found at: 5. Final Comments and Recommendations This study indicated actions for the ICRE-Biogas to become officially supported by UNIDO. Specifically, it was presented the main international standards that an international center should obtain. As minimum international standards requirements, the ICRE-Biogas should strive to obtain the ISO 9001 standard. Alternatively, since the 11

14 ICRE-Biogas will host a biogas laboratory, the ISO can be obtained in place of the ISO 9001 since the former cover all the aspects of the latter and goes beyond in terms of quality performance, as well as tests and processes standardization. 12