Do separate sub-targets apply to the land sector compared with shipping?

Within the BTV, no sub-targets (minimum) or limits (maximum) apply to ERE-E. They can apply to the biofuel types. What differs per sector is where the reduction counts. Every ERE therefore carries a sector code: LRE for land, BRE for inland shipping and ZRE for maritime. Rules also apply to using EREs across sectors: an ERE-E for the land sector (LRE-E), for instance, cannot be used in inland shipping or maritime.

Why isn't it called an HBE anymore?

Because the way the units are calculated changed. The HBE (Renewable Fuel Unit) turned on energy content: how much renewable energy was delivered? EREs (emission reduction units) turn on the CO₂ reduction actually achieved across the chain. The yardstick changed, and so did the unit. The HBE was replaced by the ERE on 1 January 2026.

Does RED III also apply to my charge point at home?

Yes, but in a slightly different way. The BTV does not impose an emission-reduction obligation on private individuals; that obligation applies only to fuel suppliers. But you can generate at home the EREs those suppliers need to meet their obligations. You do that by having the power you deliver to your car at home registered as EREs through an ERE service provider.

RED III and the fuel transition obligation (BTV): what it means for the Netherlands

Sten · Expansion Lead

Updated 21 October 2026Checked by Maarten, CEO & Co-Founder

RED III stands for Directive (EU) 2023/2413 and forms the European basis for the Dutch fuel transition obligation (BTV). The BTV aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by at least 14.5% by 2030. It works with tradable emission reduction units (EREs) across three sectors: land, inland shipping and maritime. On 1 January 2026 the ERE system replaced the HBE system.

What is RED III?

RED III is the third version of the Renewable Energy Directive, formally “Directive (EU) 2023/2413”. It is EU regulation that requires member states to raise the share of renewable energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Each member state translates the directive into its own legislation, so the translation differs per country. In the Netherlands, the transport-sector version is called the fuel transition obligation, or BTV for short.

RED III in the Netherlands: from EU directive to Dutch obligation

The Dutch BTV sits in two documents. The Energy for Transport Decree is the general administrative order that lays the legal basis. The Energy for Transport Regulation contains the implementing rules and the annual parameters, such as the fossil reference values and the registration thresholds.

Implementation sits with the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa), which also manages the Register of Energy for Transport (REV). EREs are tracked in this register. Companies that must cut their greenhouse gas emissions use EREs to show they have met that obligation.

What the BTV requires

The BTV requires at least 14.5% less greenhouse gas emission from fuels in the transport sector by 2030. The instrument for that is tradable emission reduction units (EREs), and the obligation applies across three sectors: land, inland shipping and maritime.

The BTV applies to fuel suppliers, for example a company that delivers diesel or petrol to fuel stations. Each year they must make a set share of their delivered fuel more sustainable and prove it with EREs in their REV account. Whoever delivers renewable energy to transport and has it registered, for example by charging electric cars with electricity, produces exactly the EREs those suppliers need. That is where supply and demand meet.

Not every ERE type follows the same rules. Sub-targets (a minimum) and limits (a maximum) can apply to the biofuel types. That can mean, for example, that a minimum amount of a certain biofuel type must be used, or that a maximum applies to how much of it may count. For ERE-E, the electricity variant, no sub-targets or limits apply within the BTV.

The growth path 2026-2030

The annual obligation rises from 14.4% in 2026 to 28.4% in 2030. That means more EREs are needed every year. This ambition directly drives ERE demand.

Note: these annual percentages cannot yet be traced to a public NEa page. Treat the growth path as indicative.

What actually changed in 2026

With the introduction of RED III, Renewable Fuel Units (HBEs) were replaced by emission reduction units (EREs). Worth knowing: the ERE system no longer emphasises the amount of energy delivered, but the actual CO₂ emission reduction achieved across the chain.

For electricity, the ERE system uses the ERE-E. The emission reduction is calculated against an EU-set fossil reference value of 183 g CO₂eq/MJ.

The full comparison between the old and the new system, including what happened to saved HBE balances, is in HBE vs. ERE.

What this means if you have charging infrastructure

The BTV creates the demand for emission reduction units (EREs). As long as fuel suppliers must show every year that they have made a growing share of their fuel more sustainable, EREs are needed. If you deliver renewable electricity to transport, for example with charge points at a supermarket or on a business site, you can generate exactly those EREs.

What that means in practice depends on things like your charging volume and how your charging sessions are measured, not on the directive itself. To register, you mandate an ERE service provider, such as Voltico, which registers the EREs on your behalf in the REV. You can read more about the conditions in ERE registration. More on the metering requirements is in MID meter and charge point. Check whether your charger is MID-certified. The full overview is in what ERE credits are.

What Voltico does for you here

Voltico translates RED III and the BTV into what they mean for your charging infrastructure. Authorise us, and we take the registration in the REV from there; you do not have to follow the directive yourself to benefit from it.

Frequently asked questions