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2025-09-01
Spain’s new CAE system turns energy savings into tradable certificates, creating an additional income stream for industries that invest in solar thermal.
The Spanish government has introduced the Certificados de Ahorro Energético (CAE), an innovative framework that rewards companies for implementing energy efficiency measures. Each certificate represents one kilowatt-hour of verified energy savings, which can be sold on the market and converted into financial value. It is paid by the gas companies and uses as a tool to meet the annual targets of energy saving.
Under the scheme, energy retailers are obliged to meet savings targets. They can either achieve these savings directly or purchase CAEs from other actors. This opens the door for industries to transform efficiency improvements into a new source of revenue. For solar thermal installations, the mechanism gives extra money to subsidize the installation and improves the profitability from to energy savings and CO₂ reductions.
A standardized methodology has already been developed for industrial solar thermal projects. For example, replacing a fossil-fuel boiler with a solar thermal system generates measurable annual savings, verified and registered by accredited auditors. The certificates are issued once, based on the first year’s expected savings, and can be sold on the market at an estimated value of €0.08–€0.12 per kWh.
An industrial solar thermal installation of 1000 m² solar collectors connected to an electric boiler that are delivering 1000 MWh of solar heat annually, would get a downpayment to cover part of the investment of about €100 000. The solar thermal investment would be about 300 000 Euro, so about 1/3 of the investment cost can be covered.
The CAE scheme, launched by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), has provisions that define solar thermal as a proven technology that is eligible for CAE as it can meet both climate goals and economic demands.
Absolicon’s T160 solar collector, already certified and in use worldwide, is ideally suited for industrial applications in Spain. Spain’s CAE system adds momentum to Europe’s transition to renewable industrial heat, and Absolicon stands ready to support partners and industries in unlocking its full potential with solar thermal.
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