White certificate: what is it and how does it work?

A white certificate is a confirmation of the amount of energy saved thanks to investments improving energy efficiency. They are issued by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office and are intended to encourage investment in energy-saving technologies. The unit of value for a white certificate is toe, or tonne of oil equivalent. One toe equals 41.868 GJ or 11.63 MWh. The minimum value of the certificate that can be applied for is 10 toe per single measure or a group of measures of the same type.

Energy efficiency certificates can be traded on the Polish Power Exchange (TGE). The price of white certificates is variable – it depends on market quotations. Once the certificate has been received for specific energy-saving projects, it can be sold, thus shortening the investment payback period. White certificates are valid indefinitely.

White certificates offer a range of benefits, both ecological and financial:

• CO₂ emission reduction

Implementing energy efficiency improvements leads to reduced energy consumption, which directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a step toward achieving climate goals and building a sustainable future.

• financial savings

By improving energy efficiency, companies can significantly lower their energy bills. Lower energy use means lower operating costs, which directly impacts the profitability of the business.

• additional source of income

Selling white certificates on the energy exchange provides an additional revenue stream. Companies that invest in energy-efficient solutions can recover part of their investment costs this way.

• sustainable business image

Companies that care about energy efficiency gain a positive image in the eyes of customers and business partners. Taking pro-environmental actions is an important element of building a competitive advantage.

• support for innovation

Investments in new technologies and energy efficiency solutions stimulate innovation. Companies that choose such actions often gain a technological edge, enabling them to better meet growing market demands.

In the context of obtaining energy efficiency certificates, companies can implement a variety of measures to improve energy efficiency. Here are a few examples:

• building thermal modernization – thermal insulation of walls, roofs, and foundations, replacement of windows and doors with more energy-efficient ones;
• modernization of heat sources – installation of modern condensing boilers, heat pumps, cogeneration systems;
• lighting optimization – replacing traditional light sources with LEDs, installing lighting control systems;
• energy recovery – installation of heat recovery systems from industrial processes, ventilation, or cooling systems;
• modernization of HVAC systems – implementation of more efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including heat recovery technologies;
• reducing energy losses – related to reactive power, transmission, transformation, and district heating network losses;

Improving energy efficiency can bring significant savings to a company. It also provides image-related benefits, helping to build a competitive advantage. If you want to learn which investments are worth implementing at your facility, contact us. You can also find a step-by-step guide to obtaining white certificates in our blog article.