Making homes more sustainable will help households mitigate the expected rise in energy costs in the coming years

Sustainability measures are already yielding significant savings on annual energy costs today, and these savings are projected to increase by 5 to 45 percent by 2030. This is according to the CE Delft study “Manageable Energy Costs for Households in 2030,” commissioned by the Dutch Association for Sustainable Energy (NVDE), Holland Solar, Energie-Nederland, and Energy Storage NL. “Those who save energy, generate it themselves, or use it wisely can protect themselves against rising energy costs in the coming years. Now we must ensure that people on a tight budget can also benefit from this,” says Olof van der Gaag, chairman of the NVDE.

Doing nothing is getting more expensive

Our energy bills are set to undergo significant changes in the coming years. This is due to the introduction of new regulations and policies. Examples include the introduction of time-dependent grid rates, the European Emissions Trading System—which covers households and motor fuels—and the mandate to blend green gas. Research firm CE Delft analyzed what these changes mean for energy costs across various types of homes. Homes connected to a district heating network were excluded from this analysis. The study also examined the impact of sustainability measures—such as solar panels, heat pumps, and electric cars—as well as the smart use of electricity. The first conclusion is clear: energy costs will rise for all households, and those who do not make their homes more sustainable will face the highest bills.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly rewarding

The second conclusion is more optimistic: Going green is already paying off, and this cost savings on annual energy bills will only grow as we approach 2030.

• The financial benefit of a hybrid or all-electric heat pump compared to a gas boiler will increase by 15 to 25 percent by 2030.
• Solar panels help reduce energy costs in every scenario. By 2030, that reduction will amount to €300 to €450 if you also shift your electricity usage slightly to times when there is plenty of sunlight. That’s about a 20 percent greater benefit from solar panels in 2030 than today (taking into account the end of the net metering program).
• By 2030, a home battery will save about €200 to €350 per year—45 percent more than it does now.
• Switching from a gasoline-powered car to an electric car makes the biggest difference in energy costs: about €1,300 per year. This savings will remain virtually the same under the new policy.
• Insulation is an important way to further reduce energy costs.

The study shows that making households more sustainable helps in two ways: energy bills go down and become more predictable. And the sooner you make your home more sustainable, the longer you’ll benefit from it. “Generating energy with solar panels is the foundation, but combining that with storage and smart management makes it easier for consumers to use the electricity they generate themselves,” says Wijnand van Hooff, director of Holland Solar. Sustainability measures not only offer households lower annual energy costs but also greater protection against fluctuations in fossil fuel prices: this makes energy bills more manageable. And the sooner you make your home more sustainable, the longer you’ll benefit from it.

“Now more than ever, we must opt for measures that provide lasting help to households: improving sustainability, smart energy use, and targeted support where needed. That way, we keep energy affordable while working toward a future-proof energy system,” says Femke Brenninkmeijer, president of Energie-Nederland.

Using electricity wisely is becoming increasingly important

The time of day when households use electricity will become increasingly important as we approach 2030. With smart control, an electric car, heat pump, or home battery can draw more power when electricity and grid usage are cheaper. In particular, the smart use of an electric car or a heat pump paired with a home battery makes a real difference. For example, with solar panels, a heat pump, and a home battery used smartly, your annual cost will be less than 700 euros. NVDE, Holland Solar, Energie-Nederland, and Energy Storage NL believe that everyone should be able to benefit from the energy system’s off-peak hours: let’s ensure that these cheaper “happy hours” aren’t just for the “happy few.” This requires simple and standardized smart control systems, clear information, and policies that make price-based incentives and sustainability accessible even to households that don’t have the means to invest on their own.

Even with a small power connection, you can do a lot

Grid congestion does not have to stand in the way of sustainability. The study explains that a small connection to the power grid offers more possibilities than is often thought. A hybrid heat pump can almost always be connected to a small 25- or 35-amp circuit. In most cases, a small, all-electric heat pump is feasible on a 35A connection. Electric cooking and (to a lesser extent) charging an electric car are also possible. Smart control systems further expand these possibilities while helping to prevent peak loads on the power grid. So you don’t always have to wait for a larger electrical connection to start making progress at home.

The government can seize opportunities to keep energy costs under control

The four clients are calling on the government to seize opportunities to keep household energy costs manageable. Specifically, this means:

• Keep sustainability initiatives attractive—for example, by securing the future budget for the ISDE subsidy in addition to the policy changes analyzed in this study. Don’t forget about home insulation; it always saves money.
• Ensure that smart electricity use is easily accessible, for example, by working with the market to make user-friendly products and services the norm. This will enable households to provide flexibility and save money without sacrificing comfort.
• Provide targeted support for households that have difficulty covering higher energy costs. Help them reduce their energy costs in the long term through insulation and other sustainability measures.

This call is in line with those made by others. In mid-August, the CPB wrote in its Draft Macroeconomic Outlook 2027 that investing in sustainability offers a more effective and lasting solution to high energy prices than generic purchasing power support. ‘Sustainability reduces dependence on fossil fuels. This makes households and businesses less vulnerable to future price shocks. Policy can accelerate this transition by freeing up capital, labor, and space for this purpose,’ according to the CPB.

In addition, Motivaction recently conducted a public survey on stress related to energy costs. The survey found that more than half of households believe that their stress about energy costs would decrease if they received help in making their homes more sustainable.

Download the study on Manageable Energy Costs for Households in 2030