Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)

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Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme

ESOS regulations of 2014 require all large UK businesses to assess their energy use and efficiency.

The deadline for the first compliance period was December 2015 where businesses had to notify the Environment Agency. Regulations then require the Assessment to take place every 4 years.

The criteria for a business to be included in ESOS, is for the business to employ at least 250 people or has an annual turnover in excess of 50 million Euros and a balance sheet in excess of 43 million Euros. Many public sector bodies are excluded, but many Universities may qualify. It is therefore advisable for organisations to check the wording of the ESOS regulation.
The ESOS Assessment must cover all UK operations over a12 month period. Energy consumption data must be provided for this period and the Assessment must include the following:
  • Appoint a Lead Energy Assessor to oversee the ESOS Assessment.
  • Measure the total energy consumption for buildings, industrial processes and transport for the business.
  • Identify the areas of significant energy consumption accounting for 90% of the businesses energy consumption.
  • Identify any practical effective energy efficiency recommendations for areas of significant energy consumption and assess the cost effectiveness of each based on return on investment or life cycle cost analysis.
  • Report compliance to the Environment Agency after the Assessment has been reviewed by a Board level Director and the Lead Assessor.

ESOS Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. What is the minimum requirement for an assessment?
  2. What businesses are exempt from an ESOS assessment?
  3. Who does the ESOS apply to?
1. What is the minimum requirement for an ESOS assessment?

Assessments must include a minimum of one site visit. Organisations with a number of similar sites can take a proportionate approach, applying recommendations from one audit across the wider portfolio

2. What businesses are exempt from an ESOS assessment?

Businesses that have already achieved ISO 50001 may not need to undertake the Assessment. In this case it is necessary to notify the Environment Agency of compliance with ESOS through the appropriate ISO 50001 certification.

3. Who does the ESOS apply to?

The Environment Agency have published Complying with the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), which highlights which businesses are required to have an ESOS assessment.