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The application of the EPC-NR legislation described in this article applies to Flanders.
Energy Performance Certificates for non-residential buildings (EPC-NR) are currently being sold at dumping prices, as if they were standard documents you can “quickly have issued.” In a context where companies have been legally required to hold an EPC-NR since 1 January 2026, this may seem attractive.
As a result, Label X (undetermined) certificates are issued cheaply and in large numbers. However, rather than solving the problem, they merely postpone it. This label simply indicates that no valid assessment of the building’s energy performance could be made for example, because not all required measurements were available.
An EPC-NR follows a very different logic than a “standard” EPC
Anyone who assumes that an EPC-NR is comparable to a residential EPC, a fairly straightforward process that would yield roughly the same result regardless of the expert, is mistaken. An EPC-NR goes far beyond a simple checklist. It requires substantive choices that directly affect future investment decisions. And that is precisely where the risk lies.
Poor decisions today mean costly obligations tomorrow
With low-cost EPC-NRs, we often see that the absence of measurements is used as a convenient excuse to issue a Label X. This can be arranged quickly and cheaply.
However, legislation imposes a minimum energy label by 2030. In practice, this means companies will be required to produce a minimum amount of renewable energy themselves by that date. A piece of paper with a Label X offers no clarity on how far you are from that target.
You may already have sufficient renewable energy capacity, but it might not be taken into account due to an unfortunate scope definition by the expert. The result: unnecessary additional investments in renewable energy to meet the 2030 requirements.
More often, however, companies remain completely in the dark:
- Do we have too little renewable energy?
- How much are we short?
- What will it cost to comply with the legislation by 2030?
A Label X is of little value unless it comes with a thorough analysis and a clear roadmap. And this is not something you want to rush through six months before the deadline.
In other words: a cheap EPC-NR today can force investments tomorrow that could have been entirely avoided.
EPC-NR compliance is a strategic exercise
An industrial EPC should not be treated as an administrative formality, but as a strategic analysis:
- Which measurements are absolutely necessary to move beyond a Label X?
- Which assumptions can be reasonably defended towards 2030?
- How do we avoid over-investing in “green energy” simply because the starting point was defined incorrectly?
This requires expertise.
At Enprove, we do not treat industrial EPC’s as off-the-shelf products.
We deliver:
- no EPCs without a future-oriented vision
- no labels without context
- no compliance without a plan
Because an EPC-NR without strategic choices is not a solution, it is a risk.
Contact Enprove to handle your EPC number correctly from the very beginning and make the right investment straight away.
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EPC-NR: Cheap today, expensive tomorrow
Over the past few years, industrial companies have made significant strides in energy efficiency, reducing their energy consumption by 20 to 30%. Today, many companies find themselves at a turning point. The major efficiency gains have already been achieved, and it is time for the next shift: moving from fossil-based installations to increasingly flexible electrification.
The companies that can be most flexible in how they draw electricity from the grid will be able to access the lowest electricity prices. As a result, the importance of flexible assets and buffering continues to grow.
What role does the e-boiler play in this transition?
An e-boiler produces hot water using electricity, which makes it seem like the ideal replacement for a gas boiler. In practice, the e-boiler is typically operated when it can deliver heat more cheaply than the gas boiler. How often and for how long this is the case varies from one company to another. The required temperature level also has a significant impact on profitability. While the technology itself is relatively straightforward, the business case certainly is not.
The only correct answer to the question of whether an e-boiler is a smart investment is: you only know once you model it. A model allows you to test different scenarios, combining the factors you control (such as energy consumption, on-site generation from solar panels and heat pumps, and process heat demand) with external variables like fluctuating energy prices and the impact of new or stricter regulations.
This requires specialist expertise and high-quality data. Currently, 85% of our experts’ advisory services are subsidised, and we are happy to support you with the subsidy application. Using Enelyzer, our energy management and optimisation software, we model the project and objectively assess if and when investing in an e-boiler makes sense.
Flexibly Responding to Volatile Electricity Prices
Volatile electricity prices combined with high gas prices are creating opportunities for e-boiler technology. The large-scale rollout of solar and wind energy increasingly leads to surpluses of (green) electricity. Stable electricity prices are a thing of the past: sometimes electricity is expensive; sometimes it is extremely cheap.
An e-boiler is far more flexible than a gas boiler. It can be easily switched on and off to take advantage of fluctuating electricity prices.
This does not mean replacing your gas boiler entirely. Instead, you add an e-boiler alongside it. In this hybrid setup, the gas boiler remains the backbone of heat production, while the e-boiler supports or takes over when electricity prices are low. Today, this can already amount to around eighty days per year, resulting in a 10 to 20% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
ETS2 and Congested Power Grids
Market prices alone do not determine whether an e-boiler is profitable, however. Grid capacity is also a critical factor in your energy model. A 5 MW industrial e-boiler requires as much power as around twenty fast-charging stations. If this exceeds the grid capacity available to your company, you may face annual costs of roughly €100 per additional kW. It is therefore essential to include grid constraints in your modelling.
Additional savings can be achieved through the European ETS system. This tax on fossil fuels will decrease as the e-boiler replaces the gas boiler by using green electricity. Companies not yet subject to this scheme will become so by 2028, when ETS2 introduces a new emissions trading system for buildings and transport. At that point, using gas will become more expensive for everyone.
The Future of Energy: Constantly Switching Between Assets
Want to be ready for 2028? Start assessing today whether an e-boiler deserves a place in your medium-term roadmap towards 2030. If so, engage with your grid operator early to discuss all your transition plans. Waiting times for new or upgraded grid connections can quickly become significant.
The e-boiler is just one possible component of these plans. Ideally, you should develop a complete picture that also includes other assets such as heat pumps, charging infrastructure, solar panels, batteries, and a wide range of process optimisations.
Beyond electrification, flexibility will define the future of energy. Companies that can respond most effectively will benefit from both lower and more stable energy prices.
Build your model, define your roadmap, and always think a few years ahead.
Key Takeaways
- An e-boiler is a tailored solution; the business case differs from company to company.
- At Enprove, we model your energy situation. Take advantage of subsidies to do this in 2026.
- Think hybrid: an e-boiler is one piece of a broader energy strategy.
- Smart control is essential. Savings are created by running the e-boiler at the right moments.
With Enelyzer, the AI-driven energy management system, and its team of experts, Enprove supports industrial businesses in reducing and stabilising their energy consumption, emissions, and costs. Get in touch if you want to shape your energy future together.
