Electro-intensive Consumer Aid: advisory

Subsidies to energy intensive consumers are a reality and can cover up to 85% of the costs of financing renewable energy. From Trébol Energía we offer the energy consultancy necessary for our customers to meet the requirements for this aid in accordance with the Royal Decree 1106 / 2020 that regulates them.

An electro-intensive consumer is a company with high electricity consumption whose activity depends significantly on energy costs to remain competitive. These companies typically belong to energy-intensive industrial sectors, where electricity accounts for a substantial share of production costs.

The electro-intensive consumer category is designed to identify companies that, given their consumption levels and exposure to energy prices, may qualify for certain support measures, compensation mechanisms or energy optimisation strategies.

In general, a company can be considered electro-intensive when it meets a combination of requirements relating to:

Using a lot of electricity is not enough on its own. Electro-intensive status also depends on the activity, the weight of energy in the company's costs and the applicable regulatory framework.

Being recognised as an electro-intensive consumer can bring significant advantages to a company:

In a volatile price environment, this arrangement is particularly relevant for companies that need predictability and stability in their electricity costs.

Electro-intensive consumer status is common in industrial sectors where electricity is critical to production, such as:

Each case must be assessed individually, since consumption volume alone does not always determine eligibility.

Not every large energy consumer is necessarily an electro-intensive consumer.

A large energy consumer is, broadly speaking, a company with high energy consumption. An electro-intensive consumer, by contrast, is a narrower category tied to electricity consumption and to a set of technical, financial and regulatory requirements.

In other words:

This distinction is crucial when assessing grants, accreditations and energy purchasing strategies.

To determine whether a company can be considered electro-intensive, it is worth analysing:

This analysis establishes eligibility and defines the best strategy for optimising energy costs.

Electro-intensive companies usually need a specific energy strategy. This includes:

Specialist energy management can make a real difference to a company's competitiveness and financial stability.

In line with Royal Decree-Law 20/2018 on urgent measures to boost economic competitiveness and Royal Decree-Law 24/2020 on social measures to reactivate employment and industrial competitiveness, the Spanish Government issued Royal Decree 1106/2020, which constitutes the Statute of Electro-Intensive Consumers.

It sets out the support and financial subsidies available to companies certified as electro-intensive consumers. Broadly, these take the form of financial compensation, but there are further benefits — among them access to a risk hedging mechanism backed by the Spanish Reserve Fund for Guaranteeing Electro-Intensive Entities (FERGEI).

Regarding the economic compensation, some points stand out. As established in Title III of the Royal Decree, the objective is to compensate "up to 85% of the costs on the specific retribution to renewable energies and high efficiency cogeneration, and of the specific retribution in non-peninsular territories". Furthermore, this aid may be cumulative with other aid corresponding to the purpose of compensating the costs related to the emission of greenhouse gases, either directly from the EU or from other public administrations.

To access aid intended for energy-intensive consumers, beneficiary companies must have the appropriate certification.

The regulations establish general requirements for obtaining certification as energy-intensive consumers. These are:

As for the application process, it must be completed electronically, and the Royal Decree establishes the steps to be followed by companies belonging to the electricity-intensive industry:

The certification of energy-intensive consumers, which is particularly relevant for the energy-intensive industry, must be renewed annually before April 30.

The regulation establishes that energy-intensive consumers have obligations in different areas.

Failure to comply with any of the obligations contained in articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 of RD 1106/2020 is sufficient cause for loss of certification.

Electricity, as an electro-intensive production factor, stands out as an essential element for certain economic sectors. Companies that meet the requirements and obtain certification as electro-intensive consumers benefit not only from financial aid, but also from a status that recognizes the critical importance of electricity in their production processes. This special recognition helps strengthen the competitiveness and economic development of these companies by mitigating the costs associated with their high electricity consumption, thus promoting their contribution to the country's economic fabric.

If you wish to begin the certification process as an electricity-intensive consumer and require specialized advice, we will accompany you throughout the process. At GRUPO TREBOL ENERGIA , we have qualified personnel who can answer your questions, guide you through the entire process in accordance with current regulations, and help you obtain the support and subsidies available to energy-intensive consumers.