Since the early 2000s, the European Union has been encouraging its member states to introduce energy-saving programmes. These include Energy Efficiency Obligation Schemes (EEO’s) or white certificates.
They have been developed in several countries to require energy suppliers (electricity, gas, fuel, etc.) to control their energy use. These suppliers are known as “obligated” suppliers. They are required to offer financial assistance to “non-obligated” customers ( individuals, or companies that do not supply energy, for example) to finance their energy renovation works.
In 2024, several countries have adopted the European Union’s recommendations, including France, the United Kingdom and Italy. The name given to their environmental policies differs, but the goal remains the same: to finance the energy transition. Some countries are more “open”, allowing foreign players into their markets to achieve their energy savings goals. This is the case of France, Spain, Italy and Poland.
With these programmes, “obligated parties” can resell their certificates to their customers, who can then benefit from financial aid for goods and services such as the Mateco Insulation mattresses we manufacture for pipe systems and single points.
How do white certificates work?
White certificates are government programmes in force in several European countries. They require “obligated parties” (electricity, gas and fuel oil suppliers, for example) to :
- make energy savings ;
- promote energy efficiency among their customers and consumers.
In practice, these obligated parties must achieve a quantified goal, and offset each cumulative kWh (kilowatt hours cumulated and discounted) saved. If these commitments are not met, financial penalties are applied. However, if they reach their goal, they will be issued with white certificates.
At Mateco, our insulation mattresses help “obligated parties” to respect the goals fixed by the regulations in force in European countries. When installed on pipe systems and elements, they improve their thermal insulation and contribute to :
- reducing energy use ;
- reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
To find out more, don’t hesitate to contact us!
In which European countries are they applied?
White certificates encourage concerned companies (“obligated parties”) to reduce their energy use, and so participate in the energy transition. Today, several European Union member states have decided to introduce white certificates. These include :
- France, in 2006, with its Energy Savings Certificate (CEE), which requires energy suppliers (gas, electricity, heating oil, vehicle fuel, etc.) to make energy savings or help their customers to do so;
- Italy, in 2005, with “energy efficiency bonds” (“EEBs” ), which also require energy suppliers to make energy savings, and which can be traded on a specific market;
- The United Kingdom with the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which requires energy suppliers to provide energy improvements to low-income households and vulnerable areas;
- Poland, with the programme launched in 2016 that imposes an annual energy savings obligation on a number of players, including energy suppliers, district heating companies and suppliers of gas and liquid fuels;
- Denmark, which introduced a compulsory energy saving certificates for energy suppliers in 2006;
- Belgium, whose 3 regions (Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders) have their own systems for energy suppliers;
- Spain, which in 2014 created the National Energy Efficiency Fund (FNEE ), which is funded by a financial contribution from energy suppliers, which is then distributed in the form of direct aid to companies to achieve their energy saving goals.
Today, white certificates are proving to be an effective way of reducing energy consumption. Their development is expected to increase over the next few years, particularly in view of the current climatic situation.
