Practical guide: how to earn from EREs through electric charging - ERE Certificaten Nederland

Every kilowatt-hour delivered to an electric vehicle through a charging point represents a measurable CO₂ saving. Since 2026, these savings are recorded as emission reduction units (EREs) — tradable credits with direct financial value. But how does a company actually capture that?

This guide covers the steps from charging session to revenue.

Step 1: Understand what an ERE is

An ERE represents one kilogram of avoided CO₂ emissions, measured over the full life cycle. The system replaced the renewable fuel unit (HBE) and aligns with the European RED III directive.

The difference from the old system is fundamental: where HBEs rewarded the amount of renewable energy delivered, EREs reward actual emission reduction. Electricity scores particularly well because it saves more CO₂ per megajoule than many other renewable alternatives.

Step 2: Get your metering infrastructure right

Every ERE claim rests on reliable measurement. Without correct data, the NEa will not approve your claim.

What to watch for:

• MID-certified meters: this is a hard requirement. The meter must demonstrably meet the European Measuring Instruments Directive. Most modern charging stations have this built in, but check older installations.
• Registration per transaction: record every charging session with at least time, duration and delivered kWh. The more detail, the better — hourly granularity is the minimum.
• Retention: the NEa requires data to remain available for inspection for at least five years.

A solid back-office or charge point management platform is essential.

Step 3: Choose the right registration route

Not every company may apply for EREs independently. Since 2026, a threshold of 2 million kWh per year applies. Companies below that must use a registration service provider.

What does a registration service provider do?

• Collects and validates your charging data
• Submits registration to the REV
• Supports annual verification
• Trades the EREs on the market

Also check that the grid connection (identified by the EAN code) is registered to the correct party. EREs can only be claimed by the registered connection owner, or by an authorised registration service provider.

Step 4: Optimise where your power comes from

How many EREs you receive per kilowatt-hour depends directly on the source of your electricity:

Power source	Renewable share	EREs per kWh
Public grid (2026)	50.4%	~0.33
Own generation (solar/wind)	100%	~0.66

With your own solar panels or wind turbines you generate roughly twice as many EREs per delivered kilowatt-hour. That makes investment in local generation extra attractive.

Note: electricity for which you receive SDE++ subsidy cannot be combined with a 100% ERE claim. In some cases it may be financially smarter to forgo the subsidy. Have this calculated for your specific situation.

Step 5: Do not overlook less obvious use cases

The ERE system is broader than many businesses assume:

• Electric machinery and equipment: since 2026, charging sessions for electric excavators, forklifts and similar equipment can also qualify.
• Home charging by employees: under conditions, charging at home for business use can be registered too.
• Battery storage: companies using batteries to store own generation and later deliver to vehicles may, under certain conditions, also claim EREs.

Financial impact

Consider a medium-sized logistics company with twenty electric vans, each using 20,000 kWh per year:

• Total consumption: 400,000 kWh (400 MWh)
• On grid power: roughly 132,000 EREs → gross revenue of €33,000 to €66,000 per year (at an ERE price of €0.25 to €0.50)
• On own generation: roughly 264,000 EREs → gross revenue of €66,000 to €132,000 per year

These are substantial amounts that feed straight into results. At a 5% net margin, a company would need €660,000 to €2.6 million in extra turnover to achieve the same financial effect.

Common mistakes

A few pitfalls we see in practice:

1. Starting registration too late: EREs are not awarded retroactively. Start registration as soon as possible.
2. Incomplete meter data: missing or inconsistent data leads to rejection at verification. Invest in a robust metering setup.
3. Wrong EAN registration: if the grid connection is not in the right name, the claim can be refused.
4. Ignoring the 2% tolerance: at annual verification, the deviation between registered and actual values must not exceed 2%.

Getting started

Registering and trading EREs does not have to be complicated if the basics are right. The main steps in summary:

1. Check that your meters are MID-certified
2. Set up a reliable registration system
3. Engage a registration service provider if you stay below the 2 million kWh threshold
4. Assess whether own generation is more attractive than grid registration
5. Claim for less common applications too, such as machinery and home charging

The transition to EREs gives businesses with charging infrastructure a concrete way to monetise sustainable investment. The sooner you start, the more you benefit.