Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)

ESOS Phase 3 Deadline was 5 June 2024

The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) requires large organisations in the UK to undertake mandatory assessments looking at energy use and energy efficiency opportunities at least once every four years - and this must cover transport as well as buildings and process energy usage.

ESOS is now in Phase 4 and qualifying businesses are required to submit their Action Plans to the Environment Agency by 5 March 2025. 

Download ESOS Phase 3 Crib Sheet
(note: the deadline was 5 June 2024)

Our team of highly experienced energy and carbon consultants provide full & flexible cost effective support to assure your compliance with ESOS. Whether you 'just' need us to supply an ESOS Lead Assessor (and can do all the rest of the work yourself) or you need tailored support we can support you, your way.

We can support you with:

• ESOS Action Plans -  to assist your teams to pull together the necessary information and help you to submit in good time
• ESOS Lead Assessor only support -  If you have sufficient internal resource to take on & implement our recommendations   
  
• ESOS Strategy - We can evaluate the best approach for your business to meet requirements, within your budgetary constraints and business objectives 
• ESOS Awareness - Workshop based sessions for your team to understand your exposure and how ESOS fits with your other carbon reporting and energy management programme
  
• ESOS Scoping - Consultant led sessions to determine the extent of sites/transport that you need to include for your business situation. We'll help you work out which activities you have done that count towards compliance, what you can do yourselves and what support you will need to comply
  
• Energy Assessments - Full on-site assessments of your qualifying buildings/operations and also transport. Full documentation as evidence packs 
  for ESOS         
  
• ISO 50001 Gap analysis and consultation - We can help you evaluate whether ISO 50001  certification provides a viable route to ESOS compliance. Via Gap Analysis and documentation support, we can support you through to external audit.

Find out more about our ISO 50001 support services

ESOS Qualification Criteria

• Organisations that employ at least 250 people, or employs fewer than 250 people but has an annual turnover in excess of £44 million AND an annual balance sheet in excess of £38 million. 
• This includes some organisations that may not recognise themselves as traditional businesses, i.e. not-for-profit bodies outside the public sector, so long as they are large enough to meet the qualifying criteria.

What to do to comply?

Most businesses will need to undertake an ESOS Assessment, to include the following:


• Measurement of total energy consumption for buildings, industrial processes and transport
• Identification of areas of significant energy consumption, that account for at least 95% of your total energy consumption
• Appoint a ‘Lead Energy Assessor’ to oversee the ESOS Assessment
• Conduct detail energy audits to identify cost-effective energy efficiency solutions for high consumption areas
• Notify Environment Agency of your compliance

Your ESOS assessment must be reviewed by a Board level Director and approved by a ESOS Lead Assessor prior to reporting compliance to the Environment Agency.

ESOS will take account of some other energy management activities, e.g. ISO 50001, Green Deal Assessments (GDAs), Display Energy Certificates (DECs). However, you will still require a qualified Lead Energy Assessor to confirm these activities have met the minimum standards required (e.g. including transport energy if it is 5% or more of your energy use) before you can notify the Environment Agency of your compliance.

What happens if you do nothing?

• Failure to notify the EA of compliance - £5,000 plus £500 per working day you remain in breach
• Failure to maintain adequate records - £5,000 plus sum equivalent to compliance body costs
• Failure to conduct an adequate energy audit - £50,000 - plus £500 per working day you remain in breach
 

Contact us - Free check whether you need to comply 

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