In recent years, energy saving certificates Energy efficiency measures (EAMs) have become one of the most discussed tools within energy efficiency policies in Spain. Although it sounds very technical, in practice it is a system that attempts to put a price on energy savings and use it to finance improvements in homes, industries, and services.
This mechanism has begun to produce significant figures, especially in communities like Catalonia, where he deployment of the CAE It is gaining traction in the industrial and transport sectors. At the same time, the Ministry for Ecological Transition is already working on adjustments and new approaches to ensure this system reaches households and other sectors more effectively, sectors that are currently moving at a slower pace.
What are energy saving certificates and how do they work?
The system energy saving certificates (EAC) It was launched in Spain in January 2023 as an official instrument for recognize, verify and certify energy savings achieved after implementing efficiency measures. The underlying idea is simple: when a company, administration, or home takes action that reduces its energy consumption, those savings can be converted into a certificate that has economic value.
Each CAE is a official electronic document which proves savings equivalent to 1 kWh of final energy saved per yearThis saving is not calculated haphazardly: it must be demonstrable with data, and in many cases it is based on an official catalog of measures in which the standard savings of certain actions are already predefined.
Among the most common interventions that can generate CAE are the Replacement of gas boilers with heat pumps In housing, the improvement of insulation and pipe networks In industry, the modernization of air conditioning systems or the implementation of efficient lighting in commercial buildings and public lighting. More complex projects in industrial processes or large infrastructures are also included.
The economic value of energy efficiency certificates allows for the recovery of a portion of the initial investment cost. Companies subject to energy efficiency obligations can buy these certificates and deduct those savings from their contribution to the National Energy Efficiency Fund, which creates a market in which verified savings become a tradable asset; a practical example of this monetization can be seen in cases such as EMT Madrid.
Deployment in Catalonia: 1.288 actions and 830 GWh saved
In the case of Catalonia, the Ministry of Territory, Housing and Economic Transition, through the Catalan Institute of Energy (ICAEN), has been consolidating the CAE system since its launch. Between 2023 and early 2026, several have been resolved favorably. 1.288 projects with energy saving certificates, a not insignificant volume considering that the mechanism is still in its expansion phase.
These actions have resulted in total energy savings of approximately 830 GWhTo give you an idea of ​​the order of magnitude, this energy is practically equivalent to annual consumption of all homes in Baix Llobregat, one of the most populated regions in the Barcelona metropolitan area. This total energy savings and its economic translation begins to show the potential of the tool.
In economic terms, the system has generated for the participating companies and agents a approximate return of 105 million eurosThis comes from the monetization of those certified savings. In other words, part of the investments in energy efficiency have been recouped thanks to the CAE (Energy Efficiency Certificates), which reinforces the interest of many companies in continuing to promote initiatives of this kind.
The Catalan administration itself emphasizes that the system has accelerated as the private sector has grown. better understanding the mechanism and its advantagesWhat began more timidly, especially in the field of self-consumption and private initiatives, has gradually evolved into larger-scale projects in industry and mobility.
Sectors leading the way in savings: industry, transport and lighting
The analysis of the files processed in Catalonia shows a very clear leadership of the industrial sectorApproximately 34% of certified actions are concentrated in industry, but this sector accounts for around 85% of all energy savedbecause each project usually involves very high consumption and, therefore, significant savings potential.
El transport sector It appears as the second area with the most projects, accounting for approximately 27% of the total. This includes everything from fleet renewals to improvements in logistics and more efficient mobility solutions, as well as projects related to transport infrastructure.
El residential sector contributes approximately 20% of the files, while the third sector (offices, shops, facilities, etc.) accounts for approximately 19%. Within this latter segment, interventions in [the following areas] are particularly noteworthy. efficient lightingboth indoors and outdoors Street lightingwhich fit well with the CAE model by offering measurable and relatively easy-to-verify savings.
In the residential sector, activity has mainly revolved around the efficient air conditioningwith a significant focus on replacing traditional boilers with heat pumps and other high-efficiency technologies. However, the pace is slower than in industry, partly due to the smaller scale of each project and the difficulty of accumulating sufficient savings to make the process profitable.
Data from these early years indicate a clear preference for the active actions —equipment renewal, technological changes, modernization of facilities— versus the passive actions, such as changing windows or some improvements to building envelopes, which, although effective, generate fewer certificates for each euro invested.
The role of verification bodies and data quality
One of the pillars of the energy saving certificate system is the independent verification of the savings. It is not enough to state that consumption has been reduced; it is necessary to demonstrate it with robust methodologies, traceable data, and complete technical documentation that can be audited.
To guarantee this quality, the National Accreditation Entity recognizes various CAE verification bodiesThese entities are responsible for reviewing the actions taken and validating that the savings calculations comply with official criteria. Technology centers and specialized companies with experience in energy audits, applied engineering, and measurement and verification protocols have been added to this list.
These verifiers have the responsibility to review the correct application of calculation methodologies, verify the consistency of the evidence provided and ensure that the results are measurable, verifiable, and reproducibleOnly in this way can the system maintain its credibility and allow certified savings to have real market value.
In parallel, many of these entities integrate CAE verification within a broader range of related services. decarbonization, carbon footprint calculation, or life cycle analysisThis makes it easier for companies to address their energy strategies in a more comprehensive way.
Catalogue of measures, administrative bottlenecks and challenges of the CAE system
The deployment of the energy savings certificate system is based on a official catalog of cards This catalog lists different types of actions and assigns them a standard savings. It covers sectors such as... industry, residential, tertiary or transport and includes measures such as building envelope rehabilitation, the purchase of high efficiency appliances, the replacement of boilers with heat pumps, the modernization of lighting or the installation of certain renewable technologies.
Since its launch, the catalog has been growing and is now in ongoing reviewVarious sectors are looking to incorporate new cards that recognize savings in areas such as maritime and air transport, the modernization of public buildings or emerging technologies, in a process in which technical and regulatory dialogue with the administration is constant.
Interest in the CAE has led to sustained growth in the number of applications submitted. In the first years of operation, the number has increased from approximately hundreds of applications to several thousand annually, to the point that the administration itself acknowledges certain bottlenecks in the processing due to the increase in volume.
This uneven success, with a strong presence of industry and the so-called unique actions The large scale of this study contrasts with the still limited participation of households. The main reason is that many residential renovations (replacing a refrigerator, improving a home's insulation, installing heat pumps in a building) generate small and widely scattered savings, which makes it difficult to group and verify them cost-effectively.
Consultants and industry agents point out that, on the industrial side, the system is attractive because each project generates a significant volume of CAE and allows for the monetization of substantial savings, while on the domestic environment It is necessary to coordinate a large number of small actions to achieve a quantity of certificates that compensates for the management and verification costs.
The challenge of the residential sector and the proposal for savings auctions
Aware of this gap between the positive industrial reception of the CAE system and the low participation of the homesThe Ministry for Ecological Transition is working on a new complementary mechanism designed specifically to revitalize the residential sector and other less active areas.
The proposal under consideration involves organizing energy savings auctionsIn these cases, the product to be awarded would not be a specific project, but rather a predetermined quantity of megawatt-hours of unconsumed energy. In practice, this would involve auctioning, for example, 500 MWh savings in the residential sector, offering a fixed price for each unit of energy that is not consumed.
The following entities could participate in these auctions: delegated subjectsThat is, companies, installers, or aggregators that promote home and small business renovations, collecting the resulting savings and converting them into certificates. The difference from the current system is that, in this model, these agents would first receive the compensation for the committed savings package and then they would have to carry out the necessary actions to achieve it.
This approach seeks to directly incentivize investment in housingby making it more attractive for companies to work on small, distributed projects. If the price set by the Ministry proves attractive enough, the delegated agents could focus more effort on home renovations, energy rehabilitation and equipment modernization in homes, instead of focusing almost exclusively on large industrial projects.
The industry views the idea of ​​auctions favorably, although it cautions that their success will depend largely on the price per MWh of savings It must be truly competitive and the mechanism's design must allow for agile management of actions. The goal is for the system to minimize the complications of aid reaching citizens and to be viable for operators working on the ground.
Impact on public buildings and other less exploited areas
Another area where there is perceived room for improvement is that of the Public Administration buildingsIn theory, this type of property offers enormous savings potential through actions such as... window replacement, solar panel installation, the improvement of the building envelope or the modernization of air conditioning and lighting systems.
However, companies in the sector point out that, in practice, many of these opportunities are hampered by the complexity of procurement procedures, as they require public tenders, detailed specifications and bidding processes that can be lengthy and unattractive to some operators.
In this context, it is suggested that future savings auction models These plans could also be applied to public buildings, offering conditions that make it more attractive for stakeholders in the CAE system to participate in these types of projects. This would allow for better utilization of the potential savings in city halls, educational centers, hospitals, and other publicly owned facilities.
Meanwhile, the catalog of measures eligible to generate certificates continues to receive proposals from very diverse sectors, including areas such as sea ​​or air transportThey are seeking recognition for efficiency improvements and the use of renewable fuels in their operations. Again, the challenge is to find a balance between expanding the range of actions and maintaining a manageable and verifiable system.
All this movement demonstrates that energy saving certificates have become a strategic tool in the energy transitionBut it is also an area where regulation and incentive design must be continually adjusted to respond to market needs and European climate objectives.
Overall, the development of CAE in Spain, and particularly in Catalonia, shows that Assigning an economic value to energy savings worksThis is especially true in industry and large-scale projects, and the next big step is to extend this same momentum to homes and public buildings. As verification bodies become more established, procedures are refined, and mechanisms such as energy savings auctions are implemented, this system has the potential to become an even more central component of energy efficiency policies and the fight against climate change at the national and European levels.
Overall, the development of CAE in Spain, and particularly in Catalonia, shows that Assigning an economic value to energy savings worksThis is especially true in industry and large-scale projects, and the next big step is to extend this same momentum to homes and public buildings. As verification bodies become more established, procedures are refined, and mechanisms such as energy savings auctions are implemented, this system has the potential to become an even more central component of energy efficiency policies and the fight against climate change at the national and European levels.
