What are ERE certificates? The complete guide for home chargers
ERE certificates are the Dutch successor to HBEs (Renewable Fuel Units): proof of renewable energy in transport. The law is final — the Dutch Senate approved the legislation on 31 March 2026. How does the system work, what do you need as a home charger and what does it earn you? A clear explanation.
What is an ERE certificate?
ERE stands for Emission Reduction Units: certificates that show how much CO₂ has been saved by sustainable energy in transport. One ERE certificate represents 1 kilogram of avoided CO₂. Fuel suppliers are legally required to buy them, which gives them a monetary value.
ERE certificates are the successor to HBEs (Renewable Fuel Units) and apply from 1 January 2026 up to and including 2030.
If you charge an electric car at home via a charge point with a built-in MID-certified kWh meter (a European standard that guarantees the meter accurately measures how much electricity goes into the car), you can have these certificates cashed in through a booking service provider (a company registered with the Dutch Emissions Authority that registers the certificates on your behalf).
On this page you can read how the ERE system works, how you earn money from it, which charge point you need and how to sign up.
How does the ERE system work?
The ERE system is based on the principle that the polluter pays. Companies that bring fossil fuels for transport onto the Dutch market — such as petrol and diesel — are legally required to offset the CO₂ emissions of those fuels. That obligation stems from the European RED III Directive and in the Netherlands it is set out in the Wet milieubeheer (Environmental Management Act). The Dutch Senate approved the legislation on 31 March 2026, which makes the scheme final.
One way in which fuel suppliers meet this obligation is by buying ERE certificates. If you charge an electric car at home instead of driving on petrol, you avoid CO₂. Those avoided emissions are converted into ERE certificates — and those certificates have a market value because fuel suppliers need them.
The CO₂ reduction obligation for fuel suppliers rises every year and keeps climbing until 2030. According to published figures, the obligation rises from 16.4% in 2027 to 23.1% in 2028 — a sharp jump that will strongly increase demand for ERE certificates in the coming years.
The Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa) supervises the ERE system. The NEa manages the Register Energie voor Vervoer (Transport Energy Register, REV), in which all certificates are recorded, and checks whether fuel suppliers meet their obligation.
The ERE scheme is not a subsidy — no government money is involved. The payment is paid for entirely by fossil fuel suppliers.
Which charge point do you need for ERE certificates?
Not every charge point qualifies. The main requirement: the charge point must have a built-in MID-certified kWh meter. MID stands for Measuring Instruments Directive — a European standard that guarantees the meter measures accurately and officially how much electricity actually goes into the car.
The requirements at a glance
The MID meter must be integrated in the charge point itself. A separate MID meter in the meter cupboard is not sufficient for private individuals — it is also not allowed because it is prone to fraud: after all, an external meter can be tampered with.
The charge point must be connected at a private address in the Netherlands.
Every year you submit a report of the kWh charged. This can be done automatically via a data link with your booking service provider, or manually by uploading a photo of the MID meter.
Owners' associations (VvEs) can also take part, provided the charge point has a built-in MID meter.
How do you check whether your charge point has a MID meter?
Look at the technical specifications on the manufacturer's website, in the manual or on the invoice for your charge point. Look for terms such as "MID-certified meter" or the MID logo. On some charge points the meter can be read on a display, which may sit behind a small cover. Also take a look at our overview of charge points with a built-in MID meter to check whether your model is suitable. Still in doubt? Then contact your charge point supplier — they can quickly tell you whether your model qualifies.
Do you have a charge point without a built-in MID meter? Then you currently cannot receive ERE certificates. Consider upgrading your charge point to a suitable model.
Do you have a suitable charge point? Then you can earn money. Below you can read how that works.
How do you earn money with your charge point?
Every kilowatt hour charged via a suitable home charge point produces ERE certificates. But as a private individual you cannot book certificates with the NEa yourself. Anyone who uses less than 2 million kWh a year — and that is the case for virtually all private individuals and most businesses — is required to work through a booking service provider: a specialised company that handles the whole process for you.
What does a booking service provider do?
A booking service provider is the link between you as a charge point owner and the ERE market. The provider:
registers your charge point with the NEa
reads out your charging data (how many kWh you have charged)
books the charged kWh as ERE certificates
verifies the data (the NEa applies a maximum margin of error of 2%; if it is exceeded, the booked kWh can be rejected)
sells the certificates on the market
pays the proceeds out to you, after deducting a commission
Booking service providers are registered with the NEa. The official list of registered booking service providers can be found on the NEa website.
The booking service provider only gets read access to your charge point data and cannot change any settings on your charge point. A contract runs for at least one full calendar year and always until 31 December; you can sign up with one booking service provider at a time. Incidentally, the NEa does not approve or accredit booking service providers — registration is a condition for being allowed to book, not a quality mark (source: NEa guidance document 'Inboeken elektriciteit particulieren').
This is how the money flows
You charge your electric car at home via a charge point with a MID meter.
The booking service provider registers the charged kWh with the NEa and converts them into ERE certificates.
Fuel suppliers buy these certificates to meet their legal CO₂ reduction obligation.
The proceeds are paid out to you — after deduction of commission.
The ERE payment goes to the person whose name is on the energy contract for the electricity connection. The EAN code (the unique number that identifies your electricity connection) in the Centraal Aansluitingenregister (C-AR) determines who is entitled to it.
How do I choose a booking service provider?
Choosing the right booking service provider determines how much you end up with. Commission and other terms can differ considerably between providers. Use our independent comparison tool and look at the following criteria:
Commission
The percentage the booking service provider withholds from the proceeds of your EREs. This is the most important criterion, because it determines how much you ultimately earn. It can range from 10% to more than 25%.
A concrete example: with gross proceeds of €250 a year, the difference between 10% and 25% commission comes to more than €37 a year.
Be critical of companies that don't tell you how much commission they charge! Also check whether the stated percentage includes or excludes VAT, and whether any other costs are charged on top of the commission.
Contract duration
A minimum of 1 year. Many companies offer a lower commission for longer contracts (3 or 5 years). On the other hand, with a short contract you can switch again sooner for a better deal. Also check whether the contract is renewed automatically and what the notice period is — this differs per provider.
The market is still new, so it may be wise to opt for a shorter contract at first.
Payout
Per quarter or per year. Quarterly is nicer, but not always available.
Data submission
Most providers can set up a link with your charge point and read out your data automatically — the so-called back-office link. This is the online environment through which your charge point passes on its charging session data. That is easy and limits the chance of errors. But note: there are still providers where you have to take a photo of your MID meter manually every year.
Experience
Preferably choose a provider with demonstrable experience in booking renewable energy — ideally with the predecessor system, HBEs. The NEa sets strict requirements for the bookkeeping: if there are too many discrepancies during an audit, all booked kWh for a period can be rejected. An experienced company knows the rules and reduces that risk.
Timing of sale
The actual proceeds also depend on the moment at which the booking service provider sells the ERE certificates on the market. ERE prices fluctuate, and a provider that sells at a favourable moment can earn you more. Feel free to ask about this when making your choice.
Customer service
How easy the provider is to reach and the quality of its support are important, especially if there are technical problems with the MID meter or errors in the data submission. Check whether the provider has a Dutch helpdesk and through which channels you can get in touch (chat, email, phone).
Ready to start?
Compare today which ERE provider offers the highest payout for your charger.
Compare ERE providersWhat is the price of an ERE certificate?
ERE certificates are traded on a market. The price is set by supply and demand — there is no fixed price. You receive a number of EREs for the kWh you charge, and these are then traded.
From kWh to certificate: how does the conversion work?
One charged kWh does not produce one ERE certificate. For a kWh of grid electricity (around 50% renewable) you receive 0.33 ERE.
With demonstrably 100% renewable electricity, 1 kWh yields at most 0.66 ERE — but that only applies to electricity generated renewably at the charging location itself or supplied via a direct line, in practice a business situation. For private individuals the NEa works with a fixed renewable share (50.5% in 2026), even if you have solar panels. The difference lies in the conversion method: the greener the electricity, the higher the established CO₂ reduction per kWh, and with it the number of EREs.
The conversion is based on a formula set at European level in the RED III Directive, in which the CO₂ emissions of fossil fuel serve as the reference.
What do you get for an ERE?
The market price per ERE certificate in July 2026 is between €0.48 and €0.50 (Q1 2026: €0.30 to €0.46).
At this price, a charged kWh is worth €0.16 to €0.17.
This is the gross payout — your booking service provider's commission still comes off.
Bear in mind that the price can also fall: if the supply of EREs grows strongly because many charge point owners sign up, the market price may come under pressure. There are no guarantees on the proceeds.
Roughly how much can you earn?
The final proceeds from your EREs depend on:
The number of kWh you charge per year.
The market price of ERE certificates.
The commission your booking service provider charges.
In this calculation example we assume a gross consumer payout of €0.16 per kWh and a commission of 20%:
With occasional home charging you use around 1,500 kWh a year (approx. 30 kWh a week). That yields €240 gross and €192 net.
With average home charging you use around 2,500 kWh a year (approx. 48 kWh a week). That yields €400 gross and €320 net.
With heavy home charging you use around 4,000 kWh a year (approx. 77 kWh a week). That yields €640 gross and €512 net.
With intensive home charging (2 cars) you use around 6,000 kWh a year. That yields €960 gross and €768 net.
Note: this is a calculation example, not a guarantee. The actual proceeds depend on the ERE market price at the time of sale and your booking service provider's commission.
Read more about the price and how it is determined in our article what is the price of an ERE?
How do you sign up for ERE certificates?
You sign up in four steps. There is no maximum number of participants — so you need not fear that the scheme will become 'full'. The payment applies retroactively from 1 January 2026, so even if you sign up later you miss out on nothing.
Step 1 — Check your charge point
Check whether your charge point has a built-in MID-certified meter. Without a MID meter you cannot take part.
Step 2 — Choose a booking service provider
Compare the available providers on commission, contract duration, payout frequency and method of data submission.
Step 3 — Register and authorise
Enter your details with the provider you have chosen. You usually need:
your name, address and place of residence
the serial number of your charge point
a copy of your energy bill (to verify the EAN code and to check that the kWh registered via the meter were actually purchased through your connection — this prevents fraud)
You then authorise the provider to read out your charging data.
Step 4 — Charge and earn
From the moment of registration, your charged kWh are tracked and converted into ERE certificates. The payment applies retroactively from 1 January 2026. There is no final sign-up date for the retroactive effect over the full year 2026, but stay in touch with your booking service provider about the exact conditions.
When do you get paid?
The moment of payout differs per booking service provider and is linked to the way your charging data are submitted.
Per quarter: you receive a payout four times a year based on the kWh charged in that quarter. This is usually only possible with providers that work with an automatic data link.
Per year: you receive one payout, usually in the first quarter of the following year. For kWh charged in 2026, the first annual payout is therefore expected to take place in Q1 2027.
The ERE scheme applies retroactively from 1 January 2026. So if you sign up in the course of 2026, you also receive a payment for the kWh charged earlier that year.
Frequently asked questions about ERE certificates
What is ERE?
ERE stands for Emission Reduction Unit. These are certificates that show how much CO₂ has been saved through the use of sustainable energy in transport. One ERE certificate represents 1 kilogram of avoided CO₂. The certificates are traded on a market and therefore have a monetary value.
Who can take part in the ERE scheme?
The ERE scheme is open to several groups:
Private individuals with their own charge point with a built-in MID meter at a private address in the Netherlands, provided the energy contract for the connection concerned is in their name.
Businesses with charge points at their business premises can also take part. For a charge point at the workplace, the employer (as holder of the energy contract) receives the ERE payment.
Owners' associations (VvEs) also qualify, provided the charge point meets the technical requirements.
In all cases, the basic technical requirement is that the charge point has a built-in MID-certified kWh meter. A separate MID meter in the meter cupboard is not enough.
Anyone who uses less than 2 million kWh a year — in practice virtually all private individuals and most businesses — is required to work through a booking service provider and cannot register with the NEa themselves.
Is the ERE payment a subsidy?
No. The payment is not paid by the government, but by fossil fuel suppliers. They are legally required to buy ERE certificates to meet their emission reduction targets. As a result, your avoided CO₂ emissions have a direct market value. Read more about this in our article is the ERE scheme a subsidy?
How much can I earn with ERE certificates?
The indicative consumer payout is around €0.16 per kWh (July 2026). The net proceeds depend on the commission the booking service provider charges, which is usually between 10% and 25%. With an annual charging volume of 1,500 to 6,000 kWh, that yields a net amount of roughly €192 to €768 per year (at 20% commission and €0.16 per kWh).
How long is the ERE scheme in force?
The scheme took effect on 1 January 2026 and is laid down in law up to and including 2030. Supervision of the issuing and registration of ERE certificates lies with the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa).
How do I sign up for ERE certificates?
You register through a booking service provider. This is a company registered with the NEa that processes your charging data and registers the ERE certificates with the NEa on your behalf. It is wise to compare different providers on commission and terms before making a choice.
Can I take part if I drive a lease car?
Yes. The ERE payment goes to the person whose name is on the energy contract for the electricity connection, not to the lease company or employer. An employee who charges a lease car at home via their own charge point with a MID meter receives the ERE payment themselves.
Employers and lease companies may be able to offset the payment against the home charging allowance. In practice, that offsetting is complex: the ERE payout runs through your energy connection and is separate from the employer's allowance. Check your lease agreement and, if necessary, discuss this with your employer or lease company.
Can I take part if I live in a rented home?
That depends on the situation. The ERE payment goes to the holder of the energy contract for the electricity connection. A tenant with both their own energy contract and their own charge point with a MID meter can in principle take part. A charge point that runs on the connection of the landlord or the owners' association (VvE) falls outside the tenant's personal registration.
Can I register with several booking service providers at the same time?
No. Each electricity connection (EAN code) can be registered with only one booking service provider. The Centraal Aansluitingenregister (C-AR) is used to check whether a connection has already been registered. Double registration is not possible.
I have several charge points. Can I receive ERE certificates for all of them?
Yes, provided each charge point has its own built-in MID meter. You take out one contract with a booking service provider per electricity connection. The kWh of all connected charge points with a MID meter on that connection count.
Can I take part if I drive a plug-in hybrid?
Yes. Drivers of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can also take part in the ERE scheme, provided they have a charge point with a built-in MID meter at a private address. Plug-in hybrids usually charge fewer kWh a year than fully electric cars, which limits the earning potential — but every charged kWh counts.
Are ERE certificates the same as guarantees of origin?
No, they are two different systems. A Guarantee of Origin (GoO) proves that a certain amount of electricity was generated sustainably — energy suppliers use it to be able to offer 'green electricity'. An ERE certificate rewards the actual CO₂ reduction that is achieved because electric transport replaces fossil fuels. ERE certificates are specifically aimed at the transport sector and are bought by fuel suppliers, not by energy companies.
Is ERE income taxed?
The Dutch Tax Administration (Belastingdienst) has not yet taken a definitive position on how ERE proceeds are treated for tax purposes. ERE payments are in any case not automatically tax-free. It is still unclear whether they count as a reimbursement of energy costs or as additional (taxable) income. If in doubt, consult a tax adviser or wait for further clarity from the Belastingdienst.
How do I check whether my booking service provider registers and pays out correctly?
The NEa supervises all booking service providers and checks the booked quantities. You can keep track yourself of how many kWh your charge point has registered and compare this with your booking service provider's annual statement. Something not right? Then contact your booking service provider or consult the NEa via emissieautoriteit.nl.
Can I earn ERE certificates if I also let neighbours or guests use my charge point?
In principle, all kWh charged via both your charge point and your electricity connection count — regardless of who charged the car. So if neighbours or guests use your charge point, which runs through your connection, those kWh count towards your ERE certificates. You are, however, responsible yourself for the accuracy of the data submitted. Check the exact conditions with your booking service provider.
What happens to my ERE certificates if I sell my charge point?
This can differ per booking service provider. In general: if you sell or remove your charge point, the basis for further ERE registration lapses. EREs already earned but not yet paid out for the period up to the moment of sale are in principle still due to you. Check your contract for the exact provisions on early termination and transfer.
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