Saving energy is no longer a choice, but an obligation

The Cabinet of Ministers is systematically tightening the obligations of companies to save energy. The expansion of requirements will primarily affect large energy consumers, including participants in the EU ETS (European Union Emission Trading Scheme - European Union Emissions Trading Schemes). Environmental services will be given more powers and resources to monitor compliance with these requirements.

Climate and Energy Secretary Rob Jetten sent a letter to the House of Representatives, in which he informed the deputies about the energy saving policy in the country. “Now energy saving is crucial for the economy. We will not need to produce, pay for or import energy that we will not use. Companies can make an important contribution. And all together will positively affect the cost of energy, the climate, and also make us less dependent on fossil fuels from Russia.”- the minister stressed.

Large consumers of energy

The government obliges large energy consumers, including EU ETS participants, to follow the measures taken from 2023 to reduce COXNUMX emissions2. We are talking primarily about companies and institutions that consume 50 kWh of electricity or 000 m³ of natural gas. The government is also considering expanding requirements for greenhouse enterprises.

For such consumers, energy saving measures are prescribed with a payback period of not more than five years. The rules necessary for this, as well as the updated lists of the measures themselves, will be considered this summer.

Energy saving in Europe

The Netherlands recently announced ambitious energy saving plans to European partners, in particular within the framework of the Energy Efficiency Directive. During the Energy Council, the Member States agreed to consume 2030% less energy in Europe by 9 than expected. For each country, a mandatory annual goal was set - to reduce energy consumption by 1,5%.

Environmental control

In order to meet energy saving commitments, it is important that environmental services have sufficient authority and resources to oversee. Since 2019, 19,5 million euros have been allocated for the development of the environmental service, for the period 2022-2026. will allocate another 56 million euros. The government has optimized the basic package of tasks for environmental services - now they can request energy consumption data from network operators. Now environmental services always have access to the right information about the energy consumption of companies and institutions.

Energy Saving Recommendations

The government notes the first results of the energy saving policy: in the first five months of this year, gas was used one third less than in previous years. An energy saving campaign, Zet also de kies om, is being actively implemented, which is now supplemented with saving tips for companies and households in the summer.

Since July 11, the campaign has been expanded with radio commercials. The Ministry of Economy has developed an interactive tool for small and medium-sized enterprises on the website www.zetookdeknopom.nl/bedrijven, with which entrepreneurs can easily outline how they can improve the energy efficiency of their company, as well as determine what subsidies are available for this. At the same time, we also wrote earlier about subsidies for small-scale energy in the form of solar panels and windmills.