Glossary

ERE glossary

The key terms around ERE certificates, EV charging stations and booking service providers — explained clearly.

New to the world of ERE? Below we explain the terms you'll come across when comparing booking service providers and earning from your charging station.

Basics & regulation15 Money & contract10 Technology & charge point7

Basics & regulation

ERE (Emission Reduction Units): The Dutch unit for demonstrable CO2 reduction through renewable energy in transport. Since 1 January 2026 the successor to the HBE, with the emphasis on actual CO2 savings. Anyone who charges green electricity can have ERE units registered and sold.
HBE (Renewable Fuel Units): The predecessor of the ERE. As of 1 January 2026 the Netherlands switched from HBE to ERE; existing HBE balances are converted to ERE units by the NEa.
Booking service provider ("inboeker"): A company registered with the NEa that collects the charged kWh from charge points, converts them into ERE units and sells them on your behalf on the emissions market. You receive a reward in return. The provider concludes a contract with you and is responsible for a correct registration; the NEa does not approve or accredit booking service providers — registration is a condition for being allowed to book, not a quality mark.
NEa (Netherlands Emissions Authority): The regulator that implements the ERE rules (the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management sets them), runs the Register Energie voor Vervoer and checks the booking service providers and their registrations. The NEa does not approve or accredit booking service providers and does not answer questions from private individuals.
Emissions market: The market on which ERE units are traded. Fuel suppliers buy ERE units to meet their statutory obligation; the market price partly determines your reward per kWh.
Fuel transition obligation (BTV): The Dutch obligation (since 1 January 2026, based on the European RED III directive) requiring fuel suppliers to increase their share of renewable energy. ERE units are the proof of that CO2 reduction.
Booking ("inboeken"): Registering charged kWh with the NEa so that ERE units are created for them. Only parties registered with the NEa as bookers are allowed to do this — as a charge point owner you therefore use a booking service provider.
Double booking: Each charged kWh may only be booked once. A charge point can therefore only be registered with one booking service provider at a time; the contract runs for at least one full calendar year (until 31 December), so switching is only possible as of 1 January.
RED III: The third version of the European Renewable Energy Directive, which obliges member states to increase the share of renewable energy in transport. Since 1 January 2026 the Netherlands implements it through the fuel transition obligation (BTV) and the ERE system.
REV (Register Energie voor Vervoer): The NEa's digital register in which ERE units are created and traded. A booking service provider needs an account in this register (the REV account) to be able to book charged kWh.
NEa audit: An inspection by or on behalf of the NEa into the accuracy of bookings. Booking service providers must be able to demonstrate with certified metering data that the booked kWh are correct; the cost of this is often included in the commission.
GvO (Guarantee of Origin): A certificate proving that electricity was generated sustainably. For the ERE calculation it matters how much of your charged electricity is demonstrably renewable; with GvOs a higher renewable share can be demonstrated, so the same charged kWh yield more ERE units.
Subsidy: The ERE reward is not a subsidy: no government money is involved. Fuel suppliers pay for ERE units because they are legally required to meet a reduction obligation. The scheme is market-funded — so there is no subsidy pot that can run out.
Emission allowances (ETS): Not the same as ERE units. Emission allowances (EU ETS) give companies the right to emit CO2 within the European emissions trading system; ERE units, by contrast, prove realised CO2 reduction in transport and fall under a separate Dutch scheme.
Renewable share: The part of the charged electricity that counts as renewable in the ERE calculation. For home chargers the NEa uses a fixed percentage — 50.5% in 2026 — regardless of solar panels or a green energy contract; business charge points can prove a higher share with evidence (for example GoOs).

Money & contract

Commission: The percentage the booking service provider withholds from the proceeds of your ERE units, as a fee for registration, auditing and administration.
Service costs: Fixed or periodic costs a booking service provider may charge on top of the commission. The comparison tool shows the net result after deducting both commission and service costs.
Payout frequency: How often a booking service provider pays out your reward, for example monthly, quarterly or annually.
Contract term (duration): The period for which you enter into a contract with a booking service provider. According to the NEa that is at least one full calendar year for home chargers, until 31 December. ERE-Vergelijk supports fixed terms of 1 to 5 years.
ERE reward (charge point reimbursement): The reward you receive from your booking service provider for the ERE units generated with your charged kWh, usually expressed as an amount per kWh. The level depends on the ERE market price, the commission and any service costs.
Net result: What your charge point actually earns you: the proceeds of your ERE units minus commission and service costs. ERE-Vergelijk converts offers into net results so you can compare providers fairly.
Fixed rate per kWh: An earnings model in which a booking service provider pays a fixed amount per charged kWh, independent of the current ERE market price. You know exactly where you stand in advance, but you don't benefit when the market price rises. Marked in the comparison tool as a deviating earnings model.
Notice period: The period between the moment you cancel and the actual end of your contract. Some booking service providers also apply a cancellation fee or penalty clause for early termination — check each provider's conditions before you sign.
Tacit renewal: Automatic extension of your contract after the term ends, without you having to sign again. Check whether a provider renews tacitly and under which conditions; some providers instead ask for renewed explicit consent.
Indexation (CPI): Annual adjustment of rates or service costs in line with inflation, usually based on the consumer price index (CPI). Some booking service providers index their costs every year — you'll find this in the terms and conditions.

Technology & charge point

Smart charging (smart charge point): A charge point connected to the internet that automatically records charging behaviour and reports it to the booking service provider. Some services require a smart charge point.
MID meter: A meter that complies with the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID) and is therefore certified for reliable kWh registration. A MID-compliant measurement is required for valid ERE booking — use the MID Checker to see whether your charge point qualifies.
kWh (kilowatt-hour): The unit in which charged electricity is measured. The more kWh you charge green, the more ERE units you can generate and the higher your reward.
EAN code: A unique 18-digit code identifying your electricity connection. You'll find it on your energy contract or annual statement and in the public EAN register. Many booking service providers ask for it when you sign up, to link your charging location.
OCPP (cloud link): Open Charge Point Protocol: the open standard through which charge points communicate remotely with a back office or cloud. Many booking service providers read out your charging sessions automatically via such a link; without one you may have to submit meter readings manually.
EN 50470-3: The European meter standard that MID-certified kWh meters for billing purposes comply with. You can recognise a suitable meter by the type plate showing the M mark, year and the designation EN 50470-3 — or use the MID Checker to look up your charge point.
Allocation point (exclusive): A split-off of your grid connection created by the grid operator, behind which only the charging station draws power, with its own MID-certified metering. The only situation in which the NEa allows a charger without its own MID meter to be registered; you request it from your grid operator. Rare for home chargers — ask your booking service provider whether your situation qualifies.