The European Union has set the ambitious target of getting 14% of energy in the transport sector from fully renewable sources by 2030. The RED II (Renewable Energy Directive) thereby obliges European member states to make their fuels greener. To help Belgian companies meet this target, the government has launched a new system: e-credits. And these credits are also interesting for owners of charging stations!

What are e-credits?

E-credits is a kind of unit of value introduced by the government to make the fuel sector more sustainable. For every kWh charged through a public charging station, one e-credit is reciprocated. The e-credits were thus created to support green and sustainable transport and lower barriers for businesses.

E-credits give financial boost to charging stations

By using e-credits, companies investing in charging stations can receive  an additional revenue stream . Each publicly accessible charging station can generate e-credits that can be sold on a virtual marketplace. A company with a large charging site can earn up to thousands of euros extra per year just by selling these energy units. Companies that previously hesitated because of the high initial costs are hereby more encouraged to install more charging infrastructure in the business premises and make it publicly accessible.

The concept of e-credits has already been successfully implemented in several neighbouring countries and has proven to be effective in stimulating investments in charging infrastructure there. Similarly, we see the same trends appearing in the first period of the launch in Belgium! An extensive public network of charging stations makes it easier and more attractive for citizens to switch to electric vehicles, which in turn contributes to the roll-out of zero-emission mobility, a reduction in CO2 emissions, an improvement in air quality and all the other benefits this mobility brings.

Besides the environmental benefits, this system also promotes technological innovations and cooperation between different sectors, such as the energy and automotive industries. Therefore, the use of e-credits not only encourages the adoption of electric vehicles by consumers, but also contributes to greater economic and environmental benefits.

How do e-credits work at charging stations?

To be eligible for e-credits in Belgium, charging stations must be accessible to the public. They must be publicly opened up and published online. Charging stations used only for private use cannot be used to redeem e-credits.

How much profit can the e-credits generate ?

The value of the e-credits is linked to the amount of electricity consumed by the charging station. The exact price per e-credit is determined by the market and can fluctuate. For companies with a charging site or charging stations that collectively provide around 50 kW, it can save as much as 10-15% on charging costs!

How can Pluginvest support us with this?

E-credits can offer an additional revenue stream for companies that own public charging stations. Pluginvest can take care of the entire e-credits process for your company so that your company can concentrate on its core business. This will completely relieve you from A to Z and simplify the process as a whole.

The proces works as follows: 

• Collect data: Pluginvest automatically extracts the consumed kWh from the charging stations.
• Conversion to e-credits: The collected kWh data is converted into e-credits
• Selling the e-credits: Pluginvest sells the e-credits on behalf of the company through a specialised 'trader'.
• Proceeds per e-credit: The price per e-credit depends on the market and can fluctuate, similar to the stock market.

This system provides a stable, additional source of revenue, making it more attractive for companies to invest in charging stations, which are publicly accessible.

E-credits are a great way to create a more sustainable transport sector. They not only provide a solution to environmental problems, but also create new opportunities for companies to benefit financially from sustainable investments. By participating in this system, companies are taking a step towards a greener future.

Need more info or getting started with e-credits?  Contact us   and we will be happy to help you.