ESC Renovations: recover thousands of euros from your energy renovation
Generate Energy Saving Certificates (ESCs) with your renovation: insulation, windows, HVAC. Compatible with Next Generation and income tax. Free valuation.
Energy Saving Certificates (ESCs) allow you to recover money from any renovation that improves a building's energy efficiency. Regulated by Real Decreto 36/2023, they turn every kilowatt-hour saved into real economic income: from 1,000 € for a single dwelling up to tens of thousands of euros for residents' association projects, businesses or industrial facilities.
It doesn't matter whether you're a homeowner who has replaced the windows, a residents' association that has insulated the façade, or a company that has upgraded the air conditioning in its offices or warehouses: if the renovation reduces energy consumption, it can generate ESCs. And if you've already completed the work, you can still claim: ESCs have a retroactivity period of up to 3 years (from March 2023).
Amount
Thousands of €
Depends on project scope
Retroactivity
3 years
Since March 2023
Compatible
100 %
Next Generation, income tax & more
How much can I get for my energy renovation?
The value of ESCs depends directly on the scope of the project and the energy savings generated. The larger the renovation, the greater the value. These are the typical ranges:
- Individual dwelling (window replacement, interior insulation, boiler): between 1,000 and 5,000 €.
- Residents' association (ETICS façade insulation, roof, centralised boiler): between 5,000 and 30,000 €+, depending on the number of dwellings and the surface area.
- Business or industrial facility (HVAC renovation, full LED lighting, industrial warehouse envelope): the amount can be significantly higher, proportional to the energy consumption reduced.
The factors that determine the exact amount are:
- The surface area of the renovated property.
- The type of measure carried out (insulation, windows, HVAC, lighting…).
- The climate zone: the more extreme the climate, the greater the energy demand and the greater the certifiable savings.
- The previous system replaced: the less efficient it was, the greater the savings differential.
- The market price of ESCs at the time of processing.
At CAE Market we provide you with a free valuation showing the estimated amount for your specific case, whether it's a dwelling, a residents' association or a business project.
Which renovations are eligible to generate ESCs?
Any measure that demonstrably improves the energy efficiency of a building can generate ESCs. The most common are:
- External wall insulation (SATE/ETICS): one of the highest-impact measures. It reduces heating and cooling demand by up to 50%. Applicable to dwellings, residents' associations and commercial buildings.
- Roof insulation: especially relevant for top-floor flats, industrial warehouses and buildings with exposed flat roofs.
- Window replacement: replacing old windows with double or triple glazing models with thermal break. Valid for dwellings as well as commercial premises and offices.
- HVAC renovation: replacing gas, oil or electric resistance boilers with more efficient systems (aerothermal energy, heat pumps, centralised systems). For aerothermal projects, also see our specific ESC Aerothermal guide.
- LED lighting: replacing conventional luminaires with LED in office buildings, industrial warehouses, shopping centres or communal areas of residents' associations. Especially profitable for large surface areas.
- Thermal envelope improvement: any measure on enclosures, floors, party walls or partitions that reduces the building's energy losses.
What is NOT eligible?
- Purely aesthetic renovations (painting, decorative cladding, layout changes with no energy impact).
- Installations in new builds: ESCs only apply to improvements on existing buildings.
- Portable equipment or equipment without a fixed installation.
- Measures that cannot demonstrate a quantifiable reduction in energy consumption.
Requirements for generating ESCs with your renovation
The requirements are the same for individuals, residents' associations and businesses:
- The measure must demonstrably improve the energy efficiency of the property.
- It must replace or upgrade an existing, less efficient system or element (new builds do not qualify).
- The property must be located in Spanish territory.
- There must be technical and supporting documentation certifying the measure carried out and the savings achieved.
- The renovation must comply with applicable regulations (CTE, RITE, etc.).
In practice, most energy renovations carried out by professionals meet these requirements. At CAE Market we review your case free of charge before initiating any paperwork.
ESCs are fully compatible with Next Generation funds, regional grants and personal income tax deductions for energy renovation. All grants can be combined to minimise renovation costs.
Is it compatible with other grants? ESCs vs renovation subsidies
Yes. ESCs are fully compatible with the main public grants for energy renovation. Here is the comparison:
| Grant | Indicative amount | Compatible with ESCs | Main requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESCs | Variable (thousands of €) | — | Renovation demonstrating quantifiable energy savings |
| Next Generation Funds (PRTR) | Up to 18,800 € | Yes | Primary residence, minimum 30% reduction in non-renewable primary energy |
| IRPF renovation tax deduction | 20–60% (max. 15,000 €) | Yes | Certified reduction in energy demand (7%, 30% or improvement to rating A/B) |
| Plan Renove / regional government grants | Varies by region | Yes | Replacement of old equipment with efficient systems |
| All grants are cumulative: you can combine ESCs + Next Generation + IRPF + regional grants | |||
This means you can combine ESCs with all these grants to drastically reduce the cost of your renovation. For individuals, the combination of Next Generation funds + IRPF tax deduction + ESCs can cover most of the investment. For businesses, ESCs are added to the available tax deductions and sector-specific grants.
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What documentation do I need?
The required documentation is straightforward. Here it is broken down by category:
About the property:
- Full address and cadastral reference.
- Usable surface area of the property or the renovated zone.
- Previous energy performance certificate (if available; in some cases CAE Market can arrange it).
About the renovation carried out:
- Invoice for the works or installation.
- Technical description of the materials or equipment installed (technical data sheets).
- Before and after photographs (if available).
- Authorised installer certificate (if applicable: RITE, electrical certificate, etc.).
Personal documentation:
- DNI or NIE of the holder (individual) or CIF (business or residents' association).
- Bank account ownership certificate.
For residents' associations and businesses:
- Minutes of the homeowners' association meeting authorising the measure (residents' associations).
- NIF of the residents' association or CIF of the business.
- Details of the property manager or legal representative.
At CAE Market we handle all the document management. You simply provide us with the basic information and we do the rest, whether you're an individual, a residents' association or a business.
Can I still claim if I've already completed the renovation?
Yes. ESCs have a retroactivity period of up to 3 years. This means that if you carried out an energy renovation from March 2023 onwards, you are still in time to generate and monetise the certificates.
This applies equally to dwellings, residents' associations, commercial premises, offices and industrial warehouses. If you insulated your building's façade, replaced the windows in your office or upgraded the lighting in your warehouse a year or two ago, you can recover that money now.
The clock is ticking and you cannot claim once the 3 years have passed. If your renovation is approaching that limit, it is advisable to act as soon as possible.
How to monetise your renovation ESCs with CAE Market
The process to monetise your renovation ESCs with CAE Market is completed in 3 steps. There is no upfront cost and it works the same for individuals, residents' associations and businesses:
Let us know about the renovation you've carried out: what was done, where and when. We provide you with a free valuation within 24 hours showing the estimated value of your ESCs.
We handle the technical documentation, verification by an ENAC-accredited body and the sale of ESCs to the Obligated Subjects.
We transfer the amount directly to your bank account. No surprises and no hidden costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is an energy renovation ESC?
It is an Energy Saving Certificate generated when a renovation improves a building's energy efficiency. It certifies the savings produced and can be sold on the ESC market to the Obligated Subjects (large energy retailers), generating income for whoever carried out the renovation.
How much money can I get for a renovation?
It depends on the type of renovation, the surface area and the climate zone. An individual dwelling can obtain between 1,000 and 5,000 €. A residents' association that insulates the façade, between 5,000 and 30,000 €+. Industrial or commercial projects can generate significantly higher amounts. At CAE Market we provide you with a free valuation.
What types of renovations generate ESCs?
The main ones are: external wall insulation (SATE), roof insulation, window replacement with double or triple glazing, HVAC renovation (boilers, heat pumps), LED lighting and any thermal envelope improvement that demonstrably reduces energy consumption.
Do aesthetic renovations generate ESCs?
No. Only renovations that improve the building's energy efficiency in a quantifiable way generate ESCs. Painting, decorative cladding or redistributing spaces with no energy impact are not eligible.
Is it compatible with Next Generation funds?
Yes, fully. ESCs can be combined with Next Generation funds (PRTR), IRPF tax deductions for energy renovation (20–60%), boiler Plan Renove schemes and any regional government grants. All grants are cumulative.
How long does the process take?
The full process usually takes between 4 and 8 weeks from the moment you send us the documentation. We keep you informed at every step of the process.
Can I generate ESCs if I completed the renovation over a year ago?
Yes. ESCs have a retroactivity period of up to 3 years. If you carried out the renovation after March 2023, you can still generate and monetise the certificates. This applies to dwellings, residents' associations, commercial premises and industrial warehouses.
Is there any cost for me?
There is no upfront cost. CAE Market works on a success basis: we only charge a commission if you receive the payment for your ESCs. If the certificate is not generated, you pay nothing.
Can a residents' association apply for ESCs?
Yes. Residents' associations are one of the profiles that generate the most ESCs, especially for measures such as façade insulation, centralised boiler replacement or window replacement throughout the building. CAE Market handles multi-dwelling projects of any size.
Do I need a previous energy performance certificate?
It depends on the measure. In some cases it is necessary to demonstrate the energy improvement. If you don't have one, CAE Market can help you arrange it as part of the process.
Can several renovations be combined in a single application?
Yes. If you have carried out several measures (for example, façade insulation + window replacement + boiler renovation), they can be grouped into a single ESC application. The more improvements, the greater the total energy savings and the higher the certificate value.
Does it only apply to dwellings or also to commercial premises and industry?
ESCs apply to any type of property: dwellings, residents' associations, commercial premises, offices, industrial warehouses and public buildings. Any renovation that reduces the energy consumption of an existing building can generate certificates, regardless of its use.
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