On March 18, Global Factor, in collaboration with El Periódico de la Energía, held the 1st Congress on Energy Savings Certificates (CAEs) in Madrid. The event brought together public administrations, industry representatives, the financial sector and energy efficiency experts to analyse the present and future of this system and its role in the energy transition.
Under the motto “Updates, challenges and opportunities for energy savers”, the congress positioned itself as a key reference forum promoted by Global Factor to foster dialogue among the different stakeholders of the energy ecosystem, at a pivotal moment for the consolidation of the CAE market in Spain.
A Global Factor–led forum to advance the energy transition
The institutional opening featured Ramón Roca Salamero, Director of El Periódico de la Energía, and Kepa Solaun, CEO of Global Factor, who highlighted the importance of creating spaces that help align the sector around a tool that is already demonstrating a tangible impact.
In this context, Global Factor reinforces its role as a key driver of the energy efficiency market, promoting initiatives that connect companies, public administrations and leading entities to accelerate the energy transition.
CAEs: a public policy with real impact on the private sector
One of the key moments of the day was the intervention of Víctor Marcos Morell, Director General for Energy Planning and Coordination at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, who described the CAE system as a “young success story”.
During his speech, he emphasised how this mechanism is successfully engaging the private sector as an active partner in public policy, contributing to improved energy efficiency and reduced exposure to the volatility of international markets.
Global Factor provides technical insight and sector leadership
During the technical session, Iria Flavia Peñalva, Partner and Head of the Industrial Area at Global Factor, presented an in‑depth analysis of how the system works and its main operational challenges, offering a perspective grounded in direct project experience.
She highlighted the strong role of industry in the development of the system — now accounting for 58% of generated CAEs — and the expected growth in the coming years, underlining how energy efficiency has become a strategic lever for business competitiveness beyond its environmental contribution.
First roundtable: a turning point for energy efficiency in Spain
The first roundtable, titled “A turning point for energy efficiency in Spain”, was moderated by Ana Padilla Moreno, Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the Spanish Energy Club, who guided a discussion focused on the evolution of the CAE system and its impact on the industrial sector.
The panel featured Felicidad González, Head of Engineering at EDE Ingenieros; Marie Josée Joerger, Manager of Manufacturing Excellence at International Paper; and Óscar Alonso, Head of Singular Actions within the CAE system at EQA, who provided complementary views from engineering, industry and verification.
The discussion highlighted how the system is driving a shift in approach to energy efficiency, moving from isolated measures to models based on continuous measurement and monitoring of energy consumption. Speakers also agreed on the need to move towards greater harmonisation of criteria and technical clarity to facilitate project development and strengthen confidence in the system.
Second roundtable: towards consolidation of the CAE system
The second roundtable, “CAE 2.0: proposals for consolidation and growth”, was moderated by Noriko Okamura, Legal Director at ANESE, and focused on the structural challenges of the system and the keys to its scalability.
Participants included Marta San Román, Managing Director at AFEC; Álvaro Martínez, Director of Sustainability at Bankinter; and Jorge García, Division Manager at Global Factor, bringing perspectives from industry, finance and specialised consultancy.
Key topics addressed included the growing role of financing in the development of energy efficiency projects, the need to streamline administrative processes and advance system digitalisation, and the incorporation of new market segments. Despite strong growth to date, participants agreed that greater legal certainty and regulatory stability are essential for long‑term consolidation.
The role of public administration in driving the system
The institutional closing was delivered by Cristina Aparicio Maeztu, Director General for Energy Transition and Circular Economy of the Community of Madrid, who highlighted the role of regional administrations in supporting the CAE system.
She emphasised the leadership of the Community of Madrid in certificate generation and stressed the importance of accompanying system growth with increased administrative resources and effective deployment of available funding.
Global Factor: driving the future of energy efficiency
Throughout the congress, it became clear that Energy Savings Certificates have evolved from a nascent tool into a market asset with real economic impact, capable of enhancing business competitiveness and accelerating decarbonisation.
The 1st CAEs Congress served as a key meeting point to share knowledge, align perspectives and advance the consolidation of the system, reinforcing Global Factor’s role as a driver of initiatives that support market development.
From Global Factor, we would like to thank all speakers and attendees for their participation in this first edition, which marks the beginning of a journey where public‑private collaboration will be essential to continue advancing the energy transition.
