For what projects can you receive white certificates?
White certificates are energy efficiency certificates granted for completed actions that lead to a permanent reduction in final energy consumption. They serve as a systemic support instrument for projects increasing energy efficiency and operate within the energy efficiency certificate system. These certificates take the form of securities and can be sold on the Power Exchange (TGE), providing a real financial benefit to the company. White certificates can be obtained for various energy efficiency actions, but not for all and not in every case.
Who can obtain white certificates?
Any entity planning to implement a project aimed at improving energy efficiency may submit an application for white certificates. In the case of industrial plants, the applicant is usually the owner of the infrastructure or the operator responsible for modernization. The key condition is that the activities covered by the application must not have started before submitting the application for white certificates.
An exception to this rule are energy-intensive enterprises consuming at least 100 GWh of electricity annually – they may also apply for financial support for completed projects based on Article 15 of the Energy Efficiency Act. This is a substitute mechanism for white certificates and can be used after the completion of the project aimed at improving energy efficiency, unlike white certificates, which must be applied for before starting the investment.
What conditions must be met to receive white certificates?
To receive white certificates, the investment must:
- lead to measurable final energy savings, confirmed by an energy efficiency audit,
- be reported to the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (URE) before its commencement,
- be completed,
- after completion, be reported to PURE, and in the case of savings exceeding 100 toe, a post-implementation energy efficiency audit is required.
The minimum savings threshold authorizing the issuance of an energy efficiency certificate is currently 10 toe (tons of oil equivalent), which corresponds to approximately 116 MWh of final energy.
The administrative process from submitting the application to receiving white certificates usually takes from several months up to about a year and a half, depending on the complexity of the project. Careful preparation of documentation, including the energy efficiency audit, which forms the basis for assessing potential savings, is essential.
How to obtain a white certificate step by step?
Check the articleWhat projects qualify for white certificates?
White certificates can be obtained for a wide range of modernization and optimization activities, with the most common being:
modernization of drive systems and motors
- replacement of old electric motors with motors of higher efficiency class (IE3, IE4),
- use of frequency converters (inverters) in drive systems.
optimization of compressed air systems
- modernization of leaking pipes and fittings,
- use of variable capacity compressors,
- heat recovery from compressors.
thermal modernization of buildings
- insulation of building partitions (walls, roofs, ceilings),
- replacement of windows and doors with energy-efficient ones,
- use of air curtains, insulation of entrance gates.
modernization of lighting systems
- replacement of lighting with LED technology with motion and light sensors,
- optimization of fixture arrangement.
modernization of technological systems
- change of technological processes to less energy-intensive ones,
- energy recovery from industrial processes,
- change in energy production methods to higher efficiency technologies.
optimization of HVAC and cooling systems
- replacement of cooling units with devices of higher energy class,
- use of free-cooling, waste heat recovery,
- modernization of ventilation systems with heat recovery.
energy management systems
- implementation of BMS or EMS systems monitoring and optimizing energy consumption,
- automation of energy processes with integration of data from meters and sensors.
The full catalog of qualifying activities can be found in the Announcement of the Minister of Climate and Environment dated November 30, 2021, on the detailed list of projects aimed at improving energy efficiency.
What projects do not qualify for obtaining white certificates?
Despite the wide range of qualifying activities, not every project can be included in the white certificate system. Excluded are, among others:
- investments already started before submitting the application to URE,
- investments of a maintenance or renovation nature,
- investments in installations covered by the ETS system, unless they concern own needs installations,
- replacement of devices with newer ones if it does not lead to measurable energy savings,
- purchase of energy from renewable sources,
- planned activities not supported by an energy efficiency audit.
Energy efficiency audit and post-implementation audit
A key element in the process of applying for white certificates is the energy efficiency audit. It must include a description of the current state and planned changes, the estimated amount of energy savings, the calculation methodology, and an analysis of costs and profitability.
Based on the audit, the President of URE issues a decision to grant white certificates in the form of the appropriate number of toe. After the completion of the investment, in some cases it is necessary to carry out another energy efficiency audit to verify whether the energy savings assumed in the application were actually achieved.
The obligation to carry out such an audit applies to projects for which the expected savings exceed 100 toe (tons of oil equivalent). In practice, however, the Energy Regulatory Office may also require a post-implementation audit in the case of projects with lower projected savings – for example, when values change during implementation or when doubts arise regarding the submitted data.
The main purpose of the post-implementation audit, also known as the ex-post audit, is to confirm that the actual energy savings after the completion of the investment correspond to those declared in the application for white certificates. In practice, it is precisely on the basis of this audit that URE verifies whether the project has delivered the declared energy effect. Thanks to this, the system remains reliable and resistant to abuse. For us, as a company recommending the implementation of actions covered by the white certificate system, it is also the moment to assess whether the proposed solutions work according to the design assumptions and whether the client actually obtains the planned energy and financial benefits.
From experience, we know that sometimes URE commissions a post-implementation audit also for investments below 100 toe savings. At DB Energy, when we apply for white certificates for our Clients, the price also includes the ex-post audit. It is worth looking for a similar service to avoid surprises after the investment is completed.
If, after the investment is completed, it turns out that the actual savings are higher than assumed, it is possible to submit a correction to the application together with a new energy efficiency audit.
What are the benefits of obtaining white certificates?
- recovery of part or all of the investment costs – certificates can be sold on the TGE, generating real revenue,
- an incentive for efficiency investments, even in the absence of grant funding,
- better control over the actual effect of the investment, thanks to audit requirements and monitoring,
- improvement of ESG indicators – efficiency-enhancing actions are beneficial from a sustainability perspective,
- possibility of combining with other support mechanisms (e.g. thermomodernization tax relief – while maintaining the principles of separating effects).
Summary
White certificates are an effective financial incentive supporting investments in energy efficiency. Companies considering such projects should verify if their planned activities qualify and prepare appropriate documentation before starting works. Proper planning and execution allow achieving permanent energy savings while benefiting from the sale of white certificates on the market.
