The Spanish CAE programme, explained from A to Z
Everything you need to know about the Energy Savings Certificates : legal framework, who funds them, which works qualify and how to benefit in your own home. Last updated : 21 May 2026.
1. What is the CAE programme?
The Energy Savings Certificates (CAE) scheme is the principal mechanism through which the Spanish State requires the largest energy companies to fund energy efficiency works in private homes. Rather than paying a fine to the Treasury, energy companies may meet their annual savings quotas by directly financing residential refurbishment.
The scheme was created in 2014 (Law 18/2014) and significantly reformed by Royal Decree 36/2023, which sets out the current framework. In doing so, Spain is pursuing the European objective of reducing final energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030 (Directive 2023/1791).
For the homeowner, the outcome is straightforward : insulation works from €1, with no money paid upfront, handled by intermediary operators (such as Capital Talent Invest) who manage every formality with the energy company.
2. Legal framework : Royal Decree 36/2023
The programme is governed by Royal Decree 36/2023, of 24 January, published in the Spanish Official State Gazette (BOE no. 22, 26 January 2023). This instrument :
- Establishes the national energy efficiency obligations scheme.
- Defines the obliged parties (the largest energy companies).
- Sets the annual savings quotas in GWh.
- Governs the Energy Savings Certificates as the compliance instrument.
- Appoints the IDAE (Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving) as the managing body of the scheme, under the authority of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITERD).
RD 36/2023 partially transposes Directive (EU) 2018/2002 on energy efficiency. The multi-year targets sit within the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 (PNIEC).
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The Spanish CAE programme is directly inspired by the French Certificats d'Économies d'Énergie scheme, created in 2005 and particularly well known for its "Coup de Pouce" programme, which made €1 insulation possible between 2017 and 2021.
| Aspect | Spain (CAE) | France (CEE) |
|---|---|---|
| Scheme created | 2014 (Law 18/2014) | 2005 (POPE Law) |
| Current framework | Royal Decree 36/2023 | 5th period 2022-2025 |
| Managing body | IDAE | PNCEE / ADEME |
| Obliged parties | Suppliers of electricity, gas, LPG and motor fuels | Energy suppliers ("obligés") |
| Unit of account | kWh of cumulative savings | kWh cumac (cumulés actualisés) |
| €1 insulation | Available (several operators) | Ended in 2021, replaced by MaPrimeRénov' |
| Trading market | Yes (CAE registry) | Yes (EMMY registry) |
Spain is currently in the phase of mass deployment of €1 insulation that France experienced between 2017 and 2021. The French experience demonstrated that this is the most cost-effective refurbishment measure and the one most sought after by homeowners.
4. The players : obliged parties, delegated operators, installers
Obliged parties
The suppliers of electricity, natural gas, LPG and road fuels whose volumes exceed certain thresholds are required to meet annual savings quotas. The principal ones are :
- Iberdrola (electricity)
- Endesa (electricity and gas)
- Naturgy (gas and electricity)
- Repsol (fuels and electricity)
- TotalEnergies España (fuels)
- Cepsa (fuels)
- BP España, Galp, Shell España (fuels)
Delegated operators
Obliged parties may meet their quotas in-house or by delegating to specialist operators such as Capital Talent Invest. These operators handle homeowner outreach, manage all technical and administrative formalities, engage the installer and deliver the validated certificates back to the energy company.
Certified installers
The works are carried out by qualified installation companies, typically local, which hold the required technical certifications and the ten-year professional indemnity insurance.
5. Who exactly funds it?
The funds come solely from the obliged energy companies, not from the public budget. Each completed operation generates a defined volume of cumulative kWh savings that the energy company can count toward its annual quota. The market price per kWh of savings fluctuates with demand, but it covers virtually the entire cost of the works for the homeowner.
This system guarantees that :
- There is no cost to the public taxpayer.
- Energy companies have a real incentive to fund effective works.
- The homeowner pays only a symbolic share (€1), reflecting the contractual commitment.
6. Which works are eligible?
RD 36/2023 recognises a broad catalogue of standardised measures. The main ones for residential housing are :
- Roof / loft insulation (blown-in, sprayed or panel), the most common
- Facade insulation (external thermal cladding, internal lining)
- Ground-floor insulation under the slab
- Window replacement (low-emissivity glazing)
- Boiler replacement with an air-source heat pump
- Programmable thermostat installation
- Efficient individual heating
At Capital Talent Invest, we specialise in loft insulation, which offers the best cost-to-savings ratio and is the quickest operation to carry out (between 3 and 6 hours in a single day).
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Check my eligibility7. The step-by-step process for the homeowner
- Initial contact. You get in touch with us via the form or by email, providing your basic details (property, year of construction, postcode).
- Pre-eligibility check. We confirm within 24 hours whether your home meets the basic criteria and we schedule a free technical visit.
- Technical visit. An expert attends your home, measures the loft, checks access and prepares a fixed-price final quotation.
- Signing the CAE assignment. You sign a single standard document (assignment of CAE rights to Capital Talent Invest), regulated by IDAE.
- Validation with the energy company. Our back-office validates the operation with the obliged energy company and obtains confirmation of funding (1 to 2 weeks).
- Installation. The installer technicians carry out the works in a single day, protecting your interiors and leaving the area clean on completion.
- Installation certificate. We deliver your official certificate (which can be used to upgrade the property's Energy Performance Certificate) together with the symbolic €1 invoice.
8. Advanced FAQ
Can I combine the CAE programme with other grants (Next Generation, IDAE PREE 5000, autonomous community schemes)?
Generally not for the same operation : the Next Generation EU grants under the PREE 5000 programme (Energy Refurbishment Programme in municipalities facing the demographic challenge) and other regional subsidies are incompatible with the CAE for the same building element, because the same energy saving cannot be subsidised twice.
You can, however, combine different operations : insulate your loft through the CAE (from €1) and later apply for a Next Generation grant to replace your windows, for example.
What happens if I sell my home after the insulation?
No problem at all. The insulation is incorporated into the property and improves its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, which must be disclosed in any sale or rental listing. Homes with a better rating sell faster and at a higher price.
The installation certificate we provide may be shown to the buyer as evidence of the works carried out.
Is the operation tax-deductible?
Since you only pay €1, the deduction is in practice negligible. That said, Royal Decree-Law 19/2021 introduced personal income tax deductions for works improving energy efficiency. If you have undertaken other complementary works (boiler replacement, windows, etc.) at your own expense, those may qualify. We recommend that you consult your tax adviser.
What guarantees do I have on the materials and the installation?
All materials used (URSA, ISOVER and Knauf SUPAFIL mineral wool) carry the mandatory CE marking, an A1 fire reaction classification and a manufacturer's warranty of up to 25 years on the technical performance.
The subcontracted installers hold the ten-year professional indemnity insurance required in Spain, which covers any structural damage for 10 years.
How is the saving for my home actually calculated?
RD 36/2023 prescribes a standardised calculation based on :
· The insulated surface (m²)
· The climate zone of the property (Spain is divided into 5 zones, A to E)
· The thickness of the insulating material (mm)
· The thermal transmission factor before and after the works
For a 100 m² home in climate zone D (Castile and León), an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 kWh of cumulative savings per year is expected, which corresponds to roughly £700 to £1,300 of real savings on the energy bill.
Will the CAE programme continue over the coming years?
Yes. The programme is structured in multi-year phases : the current phase covers 2024-2030 and is aligned with the targets of the PNIEC and Directive (EU) 2023/1791. The annual savings targets rise progressively (from 7.9 TWh/year in 2024 to more than 10 TWh/year in 2030), which secures the availability of funds in the medium term.
That said, the annual quotas are finite and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis : we recommend that homeowners do not postpone their decision.
Sources and official documentation
- Royal Decree 36/2023, BOE no. 22 (consolidated text)
- IDAE, Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving
- MITERD, Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge
- PNIEC 2021-2030
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 on energy efficiency
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