At a time when companies must adapt to increasingly demanding legislation on efficiency, CAE have become a strategic resource to turn efficiency into tangible benefits. Beyond an obligation, CAE offer a double opportunity: comply with regulation and monetize energy savings.

Their functioning is simple in concept but requires precise technical and administrative knowledge to make the most of them. In this article we explore what they are, how they are obtained, which sectors have the most potential, and which strategies maximize their value.

‍1. What is a Energy Savings Certificate (CAE)?

An Energy Savings Certificate (CAE) is an official document issued by the Administration certifying that an energy efficiency action has generated a real energy saving.

🔹 1 CAE = 1 kWh of final energy saved.

These certificates can be sold to companies called obligated parties (mainly electricity and gas retailers) that must meet energy savings targets. If they do not reach their objectives with their own actions, they buy CAE from third parties to compensate.

In practice: if you reduce your consumption through improvements such as LED lighting, thermal insulation, or efficient HVAC, that saving not only lowers your bill, it also becomes an asset with economic value.

2. Who can generate a CAE?

Any company that carries out a project resulting in a measurable energy saving can generate a CAE, provided it meets the established conditions.

It is not necessary for the company to be legally required to save energy; even companies without that obligation can produce certificates and sell them to third parties.

For a saving to be certified, it must correspond to one of the measures listed in the Catalogue of Standardized Measures published by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, or be submitted as a non-standardized measure with verifiable before-and-after data.

The sectors with the greatest potential are those with high and stable consumption:

• Retail, where switching to LED lighting, optimizing HVAC, or insulating premises generates major reductions.
  Example: A chain of 100 stores replaces fluorescent lamps with LEDs → 60% savings in lighting → 350,000 kWh/year → sale of CAE ≈ €38,500.
  
  
• HORECA, where modernization of industrial kitchens and HVAC systems is key.
  Example: Replacement of HVAC with efficient heat pumps → 25% savings → 500,000 kWh/year → sale of CAE ≈ €55,000.
  
  
• Tourism, with hotels and vacation rentals improving HVAC, hot water systems, and control systems.
  Example: Thermal insulation of refrigeration chambers → 30% savings → 1,200,000 kWh/year → sale of CAE ≈ €132,000.
  
  
• Real Estate, through energy retrofitting of buildings or common areas.
  
  

3. Stakeholders in the CAE system

The functioning of the Energy Savings Certificate (CAE) system involves several actors, each with an essential role:

1. Final user / Owner of the savings
‍Executes the energy efficiency action (e.g., a hotel improving its HVAC) and generates the saving eligible for certification. May transfer ownership of those savings in exchange for compensation, through private agreements or ESC agreements.

2. Obligated party
Energy companies (electricity retailers, gas suppliers, wholesale operators of oil products or LPG).
They have an annual energy savings obligation, which they can meet through:

• Contributions to the National Energy Efficiency Fund (FNEE).
• Acquisition or settlement of ESCs generated by themselves or purchased.

3. Delegated party
‍Accredited entities authorized to act on behalf of the obligated party. They manage the technical and administrative process for obtaining and settling ESCs. They require strict accreditation (e.g., technical solvency, equity, certifications) under regulations.The updated list of delegated parties is available on the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge website.

4. Intermediary (installer, consultant, engineer, etc.)
‍Acts between the savings owner and the obligated or delegated party.Facilitates the process, ensures traceability of the transfer, and helps formalize the necessary agreements.
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5. Energy verifier (ENAC-accredited)
‍An entity accredited by ENAC, responsible for verifying that the action was carried out correctly and that the saving is real. A favorable report is essential to request a CAE.The list of accredited companies is available on ENAC’s official website, under Products and Services / Validation and Verification / Verification of annual energy savings (CAE system).

6. Regional manager
‍The competent body that issues CAE in the autonomous community where the action was carried out.It receives the request for issuance, reviews the file (with the verifier’s favorable report), and issues the CAE.

7. National coordinator
‍The Ministry (MITECO) acts as coordinator of the CAE system.It registers the CAE in the National Registry and supervises the correct functioning of the system.

4. Step-by-step guide for savings owners

1. Carry out an energy efficiency action
   Examples: switch to LED lighting, improve insulation, replace HVAC with efficient equipment, etc.
   It is recommended to have an Energy Efficiency Certificate before and after the action to prove the savings.
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2. Calculate the achieved energy savings
   This can be done using standardized measures (from MITECO’s official catalogue) or real before/after measurement.
   Usually performed by the installer, an energy consultant, or the delegated party.
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3. Contact a delegated party or intermediary
   The savings owner cannot directly request the CAE from the Ministry.
   They must transfer the right to those savings to a delegated or obligated party, which will handle certification and sale.
   The transfer is formalized through a private agreement where the economic compensation is established.
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4. Savings validation
   The delegated/obligated party hires an ENAC-accredited verifier to ensure the action was correctly executed and the saving is real.
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5. Issuance and sale of the CAE
   The delegated/obligated party registers the request with the regional manager.
   Once the CAE is issued, they sell it on the market or use it to meet their targets.
   The savings owner receives payment according to the kWh saved (1 CAE = 1 kWh) and the prevailing market price.

Practical case:
‍A company improves lighting and HVAC.

• Before: 200,000 kWh/year.
• After: 150,000 kWh/year.
• Savings: 50,000 kWh = 50,000 CAE.
  If the market price is €0.10/CAE, the estimated revenue is €5,000, as agreed with the delegated or obligated party.

Important for the final user: The Energy Efficiency Certificate and technical documentation are essential to certify the saving.

The CAE price varies, but the calculation is always:

‍Revenue ≈ Savings in kWh × Price/CAE.

5. Polaroo’s role

At Polaroo we do not directly manage the issuance of CAE or energy efficiency certificates, but we can help you with the first step of the process:

• Centralizing and structuring your energy consumption data, creating a clear and reliable history showing your initial and final consumption.
• Providing a clear analysis of your consumption, so you can identify improvements and estimate the potential savings of your efficiency projects.

6. Benefits for your company

• Additional revenue from CAE sales.
• Regulatory compliance and support for national savings targets.
• Reputation and sustainability improvement (ESG goals).

7. Conclusion

A CAE turns certified energy savings into economic revenue.
If you are already implementing efficiency improvements, you can leverage this system to increase the profitability of your investments and strengthen your commitment to sustainability.