News item | 29-06-2023 | 11:40
Energy conservation is important to save energy costs, makes the Netherlands less dependent on the import of fossil fuels and ensures less CO2emissions. Many companies and institutions are already obliged to take energy-saving measures that pay for themselves in five years or less. To further encourage energy conservation, the government is tightening up the energy conservation obligation for companies and institutions as of 1 July 2023. This means that more measures and more companies and institutions are subject to the obligation to reduce energy consumption or make it more sustainable where possible. The tightening was previously announced and will come into effect on 1 July. Companies and institutions must report on the measures via the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) by 1 December 2023 at the latest.
Adjustments to energy saving obligation
The existing energy-saving obligation has been tightened on various points. For example, the target group has been expanded to include companies and institutions that fall under the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Greenhouse horticulture and companies that require an environmental permit, such as waste processing companies and companies in heavy industry, also fall under the obligation from 1 July 2023.
In addition to an expansion of energy-saving measures, measures for the production of or the switch to renewable energy (carriers) are also mandatory. Provided they have a payback period of five years or less and lead to a reduction in CO2emissions.
Duty of investigation and information
Locations of companies and institutions with an annual consumption of more than 50,000 kWh of electricity or 25,000 m23 natural gas (equivalent) have an information obligation to report on the measures implemented and to be implemented. For this, companies and institutions can use the ‘Recognized list of energy saving measures(EML). This list contains 149 measures with a payback period of five years or less per business activity. A separate list and payback method has been drawn up for the greenhouse horticulture sector due to deviating energy prices and will be published very shortly.
For large energy users in certain sectors with an annual consumption of more than 10 million kWh of electricity or 170,000 m3 gas (equivalent) there is an obligation to investigate. These business sites must conduct a study of all cost-effective measures and prepare an implementation plan for measures with a payback period of five years or less. The payback period of measures is calculated according to a established methodology certain. To know for sure whether business establishments have an obligation to provide information or to investigate, they can use the step-by-step plan via www.rvo.nl/energy-savings obligation.
Supervision and enforcement of the energy conservation obligation, and the associated information and research obligation, is already partly and will be fully assigned to the 29 regional environmental services from 1 July 2023.
Start information campaign
The national government recently launched a national information campaign to inform companies and institutions about the new obligations. In addition, many companies and fellow authorities have been informed by letter from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.