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Article 13 of 20 · Energy markets and market dynamicsHBEs Renewable Fuel Units: a guide for businesses
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An HBE, in full Hernieuwbare Brandstofeenheid or Renewable Fuel Unit, is a tradeable unit within the Dutch Energy for Transport system. One HBE represents one gigajoule of renewable energy delivered to the Dutch transport market. Companies that supply fuel to transport use HBEs to meet their annual obligation for renewable energy. The Dutch Emissions Authority, the NEa, runs the system.
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HBEs Renewable Fuel Units: scattered information versus Energy Intelligence
Almost a quarter of the Netherlands' CO2 emissions come from transport. To reduce those emissions, the government requires fuel suppliers to deliver a yearly increasing share of renewable energy. This runs through the Energy for Transport system, operated by the Dutch Emissions Authority, the NEa. HBEs are the units that make this measurable and tradeable. It matters to anyone supplying fuel to the road transport, inland shipping or maritime market, and to companies delivering biofuels or charging power.
- One HBE represents one gigajoule of renewable energy delivered to the Dutch transport market and registered with the NEa.
- Suppliers of renewable energy for transport build up HBEs; suppliers of petrol or diesel have an annual obligation and must hand in HBEs.
- A shortage or surplus of HBEs is tradeable, which creates a market between suppliers.
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
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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.
How does an HBE work?
The system has two sides. On one side are companies that deliver renewable energy to transport, for example biofuel or charging power. They register that delivery in the Register Energy for Transport, the REV, run by the NEa. This registration is called inboeken. For every gigajoule of registered renewable energy they received one HBE in their account. On the other side are companies that supply petrol, diesel or other fuel to transport. They have an annual obligation: part of their supply must be renewable. To meet it, they must hold enough units in their account in time and hand them in. In this way the unit links the physical delivery to the legal obligation. Since 2026, registering deliveries yields emission reduction units, the successor to the HBE.
- One HBE represents one gigajoule of renewable energy delivered to the Dutch transport market.
- Suppliers built up HBEs by registering deliveries in the NEa register.
- Obligated companies hand in units to meet their annual obligation.
- The NEa runs the register and supervises the conditions.
When will you encounter it?
You encounter these units as soon as you supply fuel to the transport market or produce renewable energy for transport. If you supply petrol or diesel, an annual obligation arises automatically and you must hand in units. If you supply biofuel, charging power or another renewable form, you can register voluntarily and build up units. Registering is not mandatory, but conditions apply. If you do not deliver enough yourself, you buy units from another company. If you deliver more renewable energy than your own obligation requires, you can sell the surplus. This creates a market and a revenue model for those who supply renewable energy.
- If you supply petrol or diesel for transport, you have an annual obligation.
- If you supply renewable energy for transport, you can register voluntarily.
- You cover a shortage by buying units from another company.
- You can sell a surplus, which provides a revenue model.
What are the limits of the HBE system?
The HBE system covers only energy for transport, not electricity or gas for buildings or industry. It is an accounting system: an HBE is a unit in an account, not a physical amount of fuel you move separately. A delivery only counts once the NEa approves the registration; strict conditions apply and the NEa can enforce them. Important for the current context: on 1 January 2026 the fuel transition obligation took effect, the Dutch implementation of the European directive RED III. With it, HBEs are gradually being replaced by emission reduction units, the EREs. The market mechanism and the register remain, but the unit and the calculation method change.
- HBEs apply only to energy for transport, not to buildings or industry.
- An HBE is an accounting unit in the register, not separately movable fuel.
- A registration only counts after approval; the NEa supervises and can enforce.
- Since 1 January 2026, under the fuel transition obligation, HBEs are being replaced by EREs.
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