DIN EN 17463 (VALERI) – Validation of energy-related investments

What does validation of energy-related investments mean?

Whether or not an energy-related investment or energy efficiency measure can be classified as economic in implementation depends on a variety of technical and monetary factors.

Previous economic evaluations, such as the static or dynamic evaluation method or pure amortization time evaluations, did not take essential aspects into account and needed to be standardized. In order to ensure a uniform system for energy-related investments of the measures, DIN EN 17463:2021-12 "Assessment of energy-related investments (VALERI)" was developed in the responsible working committee of NA 172-00-09 AA "Energy efficiency and energy management".

The VALERI provides guidance on how information is collected, calculated, evaluated and documented in order to develop sound business cases based on net present value [NPV] calculations for measures and to determine their useful lives and NPVs.

Currently, VALERI is applied in various legislation as a basis for the principle of Ecological Counterpart­performance.

For whom is DIN EN 17463 (VALERI) relevant?

To date, the current versions of ISO 50001:2018 and EMAS do not specify mandatory methodologies for reliable financial assessment of the benefits of energy-related investments (ERI).

To close this gap, the legislator has made DIN EN 17463 (VALERI) mandatory:

According to BAFA, the implementation obligation for economic energy efficiency measures from §4 EnSiMiMaV applies to all companies affected by the EDL-G - even during the transition period for energy audits or when converting from EMAS to energy audits.

What are the advantages of the external validation of DIN EN 17463 (VALERI)?

We recommend that you already start the evaluation and analysis according to DIN EN 17463 (VALERI) and have it externally verified:

  • You identify binding measures at an early stage and can set the right course
  • They reduce the risk that measures were subsequently determined to be economical that should have been implemented

The implementation and external confirmation of the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures is to be understood as an ex-post review: Only afterwards can it be determined to what extent measures have been correctly assessed and implemented. More detailed information on the process should be published in a timely manner.

After many years of experience and initial pilot projects, the focus is primarily on the following aspects in the validation of DIN EN 17463 for the Medium-Term Energy Supply Assurance Measures Ordinance (EnSimiMaV):

  1. Completeness - process analysis of the procedures and processes to identify the possible economic energy efficiency measures in companies within the framework of the energy management system or audit.
  2. Evaluation of the basic methodology for the economic assessment of energy-related investments (VALERI) for measures according to DIN EN 17463
  3. Analysis of the calculation made according to DIN EN 17463 for the specified measures
  4. Implementation - Assessment of the action plan to implement the identified economic energy efficiency measures.

A consistent and structured approach is essential here.

Start now to collect possible energy efficiency measures from external audits or internal assessments and evaluate them uniformly according to DIN EN 17463 (VALERI).

Also re-evaluate your internal processes and procedures for approval and project implementation in order to create the framework conditions for a quick and efficient implementation of the measures.

DIN EN 17463 (VALERI) in combination with an energy management system according to ISO 50001 or EMAS

For an energy management system according to ISO 50001 or EMAS there are currently no fundamental obligations for the application of DIN EN 17463 (VALERI). Regardless of this, however, you should check to what extent supplementary legal regulations, such as EnSimiMaV or BECV, oblige you to apply DIN EN 17463 (VALERI).

We are also happy to validate VALERI integrated in our certification according to ISO 50001 or validation according to EMAS in order to use existing synergies. Alternatively, we can validate the requirements of DIN EN 17463 in a separate appointment on site or remotely and provide you with important recommendations for further implementation.

As an accredited certification body for energy management systems according to ISO 50003, we have comprehensively evaluated energy efficiency measures in action plans as part of our certifications over the last few years.

Our auditors and technical experts are trained internally according to the specific criteria of DIN EN 17463 (VALERI). This means that the implementation of the energy efficiency measures and legal requirements of the EnSimiMaV can also be checked in advance as part of the usual audits or a separate appointment for the validation of the methodology. Feel free to contact us!