Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
Support to prepare your ESOS Action Plan, Annual Reports, energy auditing across your sites and helping you get compliant with the upcoming Phase 4 requirements.
Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the U.K. that are classified as a “large undertaking”.
This is defined as companies or organisations that:
- Employ 250 or more people and/or
- Have an annual turnover in excess of £44 million and an annual balance sheet total in excess of £38 million
Under ESOS, large undertakings in the UK are required to undertake a focused energy assessments of their buildings, industrial processes, and transport activities to identify cost-effective energy saving measures. The energy assessments must cover at least 95% of the organisation’s total energy consumption, consider all significant energy use within the organisation, including electricity, gas, oil, and other fuels and be reviewed by a qualified lead assessor before final submission to the regulator.
Under ESOS Phase 4, large undertakings were required to submit an ESOS Action Plan by 5 March 2025, setting out the energy-saving actions they intend to take, along with estimated energy, carbon, and cost savings. Organisations are now required to submit annual ESOS Progress Reports by 5 December 2025 and 5 December 2026, detailing the actions implemented and the savings achieved to date. These changes are part of strengthened requirements to ensure ongoing energy efficiency improvements ahead of the final compliance deadline in December 2027.
For Boxfish, ESOS is more than just compliance – it’s a strategic opportunity to better understand and reduce your energy consumption, utility costs, and carbon emissions as well as driving sustainable growth for your organisation.
Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme FAQs
What is the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme?
The Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the U.K. that are classified as a “large undertaking”.
Who is exempt from ESOS?
Small and medium sized businesses who employ less than 250 people or have a turnover less than £44 million are exempt from ESOS, as well as public sector bodies.
IS an ESOS action plan mandatory?
An ESOS action plan is mandatory for organisations that meet the requirement criteria and their notification of compliance must be submitted by a set deadline.
What happens if you miss the ESOS deadline?
If your company misses the ESOS submission deadline, you can expect a basic fine of £50,000 plus an additional fine of £800 per day.