The European Union has the ambitious target of getting 14% of the total energy from the transport sector from fully renewable sources by 2030.  The RED II (Renewable Energy Directive) requires the European member states to make greener fuels.  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 are a unit introduced by the government to make the fossil fuel industry more sustainable. Every amount of energy charged with charging stations for EVs, expressed in kWh, is converted to an e-credit. 
To promote greener and more sustainable transport, fuel companies are required to blend a certain percentage of biofuel with diesel and petrol. This  biofuel  is derived from grains and other crops that also serve as food such as palm oil, sugar cane and corn. But of course, we don't want all our crops to be used for this as they are much needed for food production and other things.  

To ensure that the fuel industry does not suddenly use all this food for their fuel but can still meet the EU target, the Belgian government has introduced the e-credits system. Companies that process and supply fossil fuel such as diesel and petrol can use these e-credits instead of biofuel to comply with regulations. 

E-credits give financial boost to charging stations

By implementing e-credits, companies that invest in charging infrastructure get  additional revenue. Each charging station that is installed generates e-credits that can be sold on a virtual marketplace. A company with a large charging station plaza can earn thousands of extra euros a year just by selling these energy units. Companies that were previously hesitant because of the high initial cost are now encouraged to participate in the growing market.

The concept of e-credits has already been successfully implemented in several neighbouring countries, where it has proven to be effective in stimulating investments in charging infrastructure. An extensive network of charging stations makes it easier and more attractive for individuals to switch to electric vehicles, which in turn helps reduce CO2 emissions and improve air quality.

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

How do e-credits work at charging stations?

To qualify for e-credits in Belgium, charging stations must be accessible to the public. They must therefore be semi- or fully public. Charging posts that are only used for private use cannot therefore be used to redeem e-credits.

How much profit can the e-credits generate ?

The value of an e-credit is linked to the amount of electricity delivered to a charging station. The exact price is determined by the market and can fluctuate. For companies with a large charging station site (> 50 charging stations), it can yield several thousand euros extra per year.

Expansion to home charging points

Currently, the scheme only applies to public and semi-public charging points, but there is talk of extending it to home charging points. Most charging sessions happen at people's homes, at their own charging station. This could give a huge boost to EV adoption, especially in areas where the charging network is still under development, such as Wallonia.

How can you make money with e-credits as a business?

E-credits are an additional stream of income for companies that own (semi-)public charging stations. You can ask an operator, such as Pluginvest, to take care of the entire process of e-credits for your business. This means you don't even have to do anything anymore. And you get extra income easily.

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'.
• Revenue: The price per e-credit depends on the market and can fluctuate, similar to the stock market. Currently, the price is around €10 per e-credit, but this can vary.

This system provides a stable, additional source of revenue, making it attractive for companies to invest in (semi-)public charging stations.

E-credits are a good 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.