Everything you need to know about Energy Savings Certificates

The energy transition is one of the major challenges of the 21st century. To encourage economic players to reduce their energy consumption, France introduced the Energy Savings Certificates scheme (Certificats d'économies d'énergie, or CEE). But what exactly are CEEs? And why are they so crucial to our energy future?

Find out everything you need to know about Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) in this article!  

What is the Energy Savings Certificate (CEE)?

The Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) scheme was introduced in France by the 2005 POPE law (French law setting out the guidelines of the national energy policy). This law, innovative for its time, was created at a moment when awareness of environmental issues, particularly global warming, was becoming paramount.  

CEEs are one of the main tools among the public policies aimed at reducing the country's energy consumption.

The main idea behind this scheme was to place energy suppliers, who are the key players in energy consumption, at the heart of the national effort to save energy. By making them responsible for achieving or financing energy savings, the scheme encouraged them to push their customers (industrial companies, households, local authorities) to implement energy-saving measures.

Since 2005, the scheme has gone through several three-year periods, each setting more ambitious energy savings targets than the previous one. This reflects the government's growing determination to make CEEs a key lever of the energy transition in France.

How do CEEs work?

The Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) mechanism is both simple in its design and clever in its execution. The core principle is to require energy suppliers (known as "obligated parties"), such as electricity, gas, heating oil or vehicle fuel companies, to achieve energy savings or to encourage their customers to do so.

For each unit of energy they sell, these suppliers are assigned an energy savings obligation. They can meet this obligation either by directly implementing energy-saving actions or by buying CEEs from other players who have achieved savings beyond their own obligations. This CEE market therefore encourages healthy competition to achieve energy savings.

In practice, when a company or a household carries out energy-saving work, it can receive certificates (CEE) based on the volume of energy saved. These certificates can then be sold to energy suppliers who need them to meet their obligations. This creates a financial incentive system for actions that promote energy savings.

Over time, the scheme has become more sophisticated, and various arrangements have been put in place to ensure it runs smoothly, such as the creation of a national CEE registry and the introduction of controls to prevent fraud.

What are the benefits for companies?

Integrating the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) scheme into your business strategy offers a wide range of significant benefits. Here are some of the key advantages companies can gain from this program:

Financial incentives

At the heart of the CEE system lies a powerful economic motivation. Companies that achieve energy savings can sell their certificates to energy suppliers, giving them an additional source of revenue.

Strengthening corporate social responsibility (CSR)

In a world where environmental concerns are growing, having a responsible energy strategy improves a company's brand image and strengthens its reputation as an eco-responsible player.

Lower operating costs

Beyond the benefits of the CEEs themselves, the energy-saving actions implemented can lead to significant reductions in energy costs, improving long-term profitability.

Driving innovation

The need to research and implement energy-saving solutions can drive innovation within companies, pushing them to develop new, more eco-efficient processes or technologies.

Regulatory compliance

With environmental regulations multiplying, proactively adopting CEEs helps companies stay compliant, avoiding sanctions and penalties.

Employee engagement

Adopting an environmentally friendly approach can increase employee engagement, as many employees are increasingly concerned about ethics and sustainability.

How do you obtain Energy Savings Certificates?

Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) are an advantageous financial lever for companies that want to commit to the energy transition. However, to benefit from them, there are a few key steps to follow:

1. Preliminary assessment: First of all, it is essential to carry out an energy audit of your company. This helps identify the main areas of consumption and define potential energy-saving actions.

2. Choosing eligible operations: Not all energy-saving operations are eligible for the scheme. It is therefore crucial to look into the eligibility criteria and make sure the planned actions meet them.

3. Partnering with an energy supplier: Companies cannot obtain CEEs directly. They need to partner with an obligated energy supplier or a delegated organization to submit an application.

4. Carrying out the work: Once the supplier has given its approval, the energy-saving work or actions can go ahead.

5. Gathering evidence: Once the work is done, it is essential to collect all the evidence proving the savings achieved. This documentation will serve as the basis for issuing the CEEs.

6. Validation and issuance: After checking the evidence and the compliance of the actions, the energy supplier validates the issuance of the CEEs. They can then be turned into financial value.

7. Monitoring and improvement: It is recommended to regularly monitor the savings generated to make sure the actions implemented are effective and, potentially, to consider further optimizations.

Leasetic supports you in your ecological transition

Leasetic guides companies that are aware of their environmental footprint toward a green transition. We offer four essential pillars to support your growth:

• Financing solutions to boost your growth and innovation,
• Provision and management of your machine fleet,
• Upcycling initiatives to renew your equipment or give it a second life,
• Financial expertise.

Ready to boost your growth while supporting the ecological transition? Contact one of our experts!