What is covered under the energy saving obligation?

The energy saving obligation
The energy saving obligation is a legal requirement in the Netherlands for companies that consume a substantial amount of energy. Companies with an annual electricity consumption of more than 50,000 kWh or natural gas consumption of more than 25,000 m³ fall under this obligation and must take steps to improve sustainability. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is the authority responsible for enforcing this obligation.

Companies subject to the energy saving obligation must implement energy-saving measures with a payback period of five years or less. The goal of the energy saving obligation is to reduce energy waste and CO₂ emissions, contributing to a better environment.

Complying with the energy saving obligation is not only legally wise — it also benefits your company financially. By reducing energy loss through the required measures, your energy consumption (and thus your costs) decreases.

Energy saving obligation and the information duty
Companies under the energy saving obligation must not only reduce their energy use but also submit a report every four years. These reports, which detail the energy-saving measures taken, fall under the information duty (informatieplicht) of the energy saving obligation. Companies must send these reports to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The regional environmental services use this information to verify whether companies are actually reducing their energy consumption. The information duty ensures that company efforts are clear and verifiable.

The investigation duty (onderzoeksplicht)
Does your company use more than 10 million kWh of electricity or more than 170,000 m³ of natural gas per year? Then you are subject to the investigation duty. You must have an in-depth energy-saving analysis carried out by a certified agency. This agency will create a detailed plan with saving recommendations and submit the results to the RVO. The investigation duty gives your company insight into its energy consumption and potential savings.

EED audit obligation
The EED audit obligation is a European regulation that also applies to Dutch companies. If your company has more than 250 employees or an annual turnover above €50 million, it falls under this requirement. You must undergo a comprehensive energy audit every four years.

The EED audit, part of the broader energy efficiency obligations, provides a detailed report of your energy consumption and suggests measures to increase efficiency. This report is also submitted to the RVO, which monitors compliance.

It can be quite challenging to find and understand all the information related to the energy saving obligation and the associated requirements. To make this easier, the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) provides a knowledge base with recognised measures and educational materials on its website. Their website is a useful place to explore energy-saving opportunities and learn how to meet legal requirements. RVO also offers a step-by-step tool to help you find out which obligations apply to your business.

In addition, RVO provides educational sessions for businesses on the best and newest practices in energy efficiency. They organise workshops, webinars, and other events to inform companies about the latest developments and technologies. It’s definitely worth attending one!

Financial tools for the energy saving obligation
There are also financial tools to support compliance with the energy saving obligation. If your company invests in equipment that reduces CO₂ emissions and increases energy efficiency, you may qualify for the Energy Investment Deduction (EIA). The key requirement is that the investment is listed on the official energy list.

In some cases, regional or local energy subsidies may be available, though this varies by region and municipality.

If your company falls under the energy saving obligation, reporting your energy-saving actions is mandatory. You must submit a detailed report on your energy consumption and the measures you’ve taken to reduce it.

RVO recommends using the Recognised Measures List for energy saving as a starting point. For each recognised measure, you must indicate whether:

• You have implemented it
• You have implemented an alternative measure

The reports are reviewed by the regional environmental services. They are responsible for enforcing the rules and checking whether companies are meeting legal requirements. These agencies conduct inspections and have the authority to impose sanctions for non-compliance.

To strengthen enforcement, the Dutch government plans to expand the capacity of these environmental services. This means more inspections and checks, encouraging better compliance with the energy saving obligation. Increased oversight helps advance national goals for energy efficiency and CO₂ reduction.

Enforcement and fines for the energy saving obligation
Enforcement of the energy saving obligation lies with the environmental services. They carry out inspections to ensure companies comply. Businesses that fail to meet the rules may face fines and other penalties. The size of the fine depends on the severity and frequency of the violation.

The energy saving obligation plays a key role in reducing energy consumption and lowering CO₂ emissions. Companies are responsible for meeting this obligation and reporting to the RVO to support a more sustainable future. By keeping an eye on the RVO website and attending workshops and webinars, you’ll stay well informed about all developments. And remember, by complying with the energy saving obligation, you also save on energy costs!

Econtras Insulation helps you become more sustainable and meet the energy saving obligation
Did you know you lose heat when fittings aren’t insulated? With a custom-made insulation mattress, you can reduce heat loss by up to 85%! That means less wasted energy and lower energy costs. At Econtras, we create custom-made insulation mattresses. These are not only suitable for fittings, but also for boilers, combined heat and power systems, and more.

Want to find out how much you could save on your energy bills? Contact us today and we’ll calculate it for you!

We can also help you with the following energy-saving measures:
Steam
Energy measure FB5
Energy measure FB6
Swimming pools
Energy measure FH2
Hot tap water
Energy measure GE1
Process heat
Energy measure PE2
Greenhouse horticulture
Energy measure PT5

You can also count on us when you need to insulate one or more of the following components:
District heating, hot water fittings, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems, steam boiler, firing system (gas engine, diesel engine, dual-fuel engine, gas turbine, boiler, furnace, dryer, air heater, and other firing systems), supply line, condensate line, return line, economiser, flue gas condenser, flue gas duct, and heat pump.