Energy-saving obligation explained for businesses
Direct answer
The Dutch energy saving obligation (energiebesparingsplicht) requires companies and institutions to carry out every energy saving measure that pays for itself within five years, or to reduce their CO2 emissions instead. It applies from an annual use of 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity or 25,000 cubic metres of natural gas (equivalent) per site, and has been part of the Environment Act since 2024.
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Energy-saving obligation explained: scattered information versus Energy Intelligence
Many companies use more energy than necessary, while simple measures pay for themselves quickly. Think of LED lighting, better tuned ventilation, or installations that switch off at night. To stop that saving from going to waste, the government requires larger users to save energy. This obligation matters to the owner or facility manager of a factory, office, shop or warehouse with substantial energy use. Since 1 July 2023 it applies to more companies than before.
- You fall under the obligation from an annual use of 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity or 25,000 cubic metres of natural gas (equivalent) per site.
- You must take every measure with a payback time of five years or less; the Recognised Measures List (EML) helps you find them.
- Since 1 January 2024 the obligation sits in the Environment Act, in the Activities Decree (Bal) and the Buildings Decree (Bbl).
Insight
Traditional approach
Information is scattered across portals, documents, invoices or separate spreadsheets.
Modern approach
Data, context and interpretation are brought together into a clear decision picture.
Decision-making
Traditional approach
Choices are made based on averages, assumptions or occasional analyses.
Modern approach
Scenarios, KPIs and current measurement data make the trade-off more concrete and repeatable.
Follow-up
Traditional approach
Actions often stay non-committal or disappear into separate reports.
Modern approach
Follow-up actions, monitoring and reporting are linked to the same energy data.
Who does the energy saving obligation apply to?
The obligation applies to a site with a relevant environmentally harmful activity and an annual energy use from 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity or 25,000 cubic metres of natural gas (equivalent). Other energy carriers, such as diesel, are converted to that gas equivalent. The obligation splits into two parts. The organisation carrying out the activity is responsible for saving energy within that activity. The owner of the building is responsible for savings on the building itself. For one site, two organisations may therefore hold an obligation at the same time. If you are unsure whether it applies, the Energy Saving Checker (Wetchecker) from the agency RVO gives clarity.
- Threshold: from 50,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity or 25,000 cubic metres of natural gas (equivalent) per year per site.
- Other energy carriers are converted to a gas equivalent to test the threshold.
- The operator of the activity and the building owner can each hold an obligation.
- Since 1 July 2023 the obligation also applies to companies with an environmental permit.
- The RVO Energy Saving Checker shows whether you fall under the obligation.
What do you have to do to comply?
You carry out every energy saving measure that pays for itself within five years. Instead of that, you may also reduce your CO2 emissions. The Recognised Measures List (EML) is the main tool here: per sector it lists measures that usually pay back within five years. If you do not take a recognised measure, you take an equal or better alternative that saves at least as much energy. If you do not follow the list, you must identify and carry out all measures with a payback time of five years or less yourself. The competent authority, usually the regional environment agency on behalf of the municipality, assesses whether you comply.
- Take every measure with a payback time of five years or less, or reduce your CO2 emissions.
- The Recognised Measures List (EML) helps you find the applicable measures.
- A recognised measure you skip must be replaced by an equal or better alternative.
- Payback time is calculated using RVO's fixed payback-time method.
- The competent authority, often the environment agency, assesses compliance.
How does it relate to the information and research obligations?
The energy saving obligation itself says what you must do. The information obligation and the research obligation govern how you report on it to the competent authority. For building measures, the information obligation always applies: you report through the RVO online portal which measures you have taken. For activity-related measures, the information obligation applies, or, at higher energy use, the research obligation. Under a research obligation you submit a research report instead of a notification, and the information obligation lapses for that part. Large companies may additionally face the EED audit obligation. Since 1 January 2024 all of this sits in the Environment Act, where it replaced the former Activities Decree.
- The saving obligation sets what you do; the information and research obligations set how you report.
- For building measures the information obligation always applies, through the RVO portal.
- At higher energy use, activities fall under the research obligation instead of the information obligation.
- Large companies may additionally face the EED audit obligation.
- Since 1 January 2024 this all sits in the Environment Act, no longer in the Activities Decree.
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