Build correct CAE files on the first try.

How do you build CAE files as an intermediary in Spain?

The Certificados de Ahorro Energético system allows installers, engineering firms and ESCOs to generate additional income from the energy efficiency actions they already carry out. However, the process of building a file compliant with RD 36/2023 requires documentary and technical rigor. The intermediary prepares the complete file, gathers the documentation and transmits it to the sujeto delegado, who is the one who officially submits the application to MITECO. Understanding this division of responsibilities is the first step to avoiding rejections.

What documents does an installer need for a CAE file?

A standardized CAE file requires a set of regulatory documents that must be complete before transmission to the sujeto delegado. Among the most relevant are the Acto de Compromiso (which must be signed before the start of the works, in accordance with article 8 of RD 36/2023), the photographic report of the installation, the invoice for the actuación, the certificate of the authorized installer and the descriptive technical report. Each document has specific format and content requirements which, if not met, may cause the file to be returned by the ENAC verifier. For the most critical contractual documents you can start from the indicative templates for the Convenio CAE and the Acto de Compromiso compliant with RD 36/2023.

How are energy savings calculated with the IDAE fichas?

The savings calculation is based on the standardized fichas published by the IDAE through Orden TED/845/2023. There are 114 fichas organized into five categories: Industrial (IND), Residential (RES), Tertiary (TER), Agricultural (AGR) and Transport (TRA). Each ficha defines a specific calculation formula with technical parameters that the installer must enter (power, efficiency, operating hours, climate zone, etc.). The resulting savings must exceed the minimum threshold of 30 MWh per file to be admissible. Performing this calculation manually in Excel multiplies the risk of arithmetic errors or parameter selection errors. A specialized CAE management software automates the calculation and validates the result before sending.

What is the difference between an actuación estandarizada and an actuación singular?

Actuaciones estandarizadas are those that correspond to one of the 114 fichas in the official catalogue (Orden TED/845/2023). Their savings calculation follows predefined formulas and their processing is faster. Actuaciones singulares, on the other hand, do not fit any existing ficha and require an ad hoc calculation methodology, accompanied by a specific technical report that justifies the estimated savings. CertificAhorro covers both cases: the 114 standardized fichas (the vast majority of files processed in Spain) and the complete workflow for actuaciones singulares compliant with Chapter V of Orden TED/815/2023, with the regulatory gates on technical report, calculation methodology, measurement period and energy audit.

How is a CAE file transmitted to the sujeto delegado?

The typical workflow is as follows: the intermediary creates the file, enters the technical data, uploads the regulatory documents and validates that everything is compliant. Once the file is complete, it is transmitted to the sujeto delegado through the platform. The sujeto delegado receives the file, carries out their own internal verification and, if everything is correct, submits it to the MITECO electronic Sede. The CertificAhorro platform allows the intermediary to maintain visibility into the file status throughout the cycle, from transmission to the final resolution.

What are the most common errors when building CAE files?

The most frequent reasons for rejection include: a CUPS (Código Unificado de Punto de Suministro) with an incorrect format or that does not correspond to the declared installation; an Acto de Compromiso signed with a date later than the start of the works (which invalidates the file under art. 8 of RD 36/2023); the ZIP file nomenclature that does not respect the conventions required by the Sede MITECO (S1, S2, S2-I, S3-1, S3-2, S3-3, AC, AP); missing or incomplete regulatory documents; and calculated savings that do not reach the minimum threshold of 30 MWh. CertificAhorro detects each of these problems before the file is transmitted to the sujeto delegado.

What is the CUPS and how is it validated in a CAE file?

The CUPS (Código Unificado de Punto de Suministro) is the unique identifier assigned to each electricity or gas supply point in Spain. Its official format begins with "ES" followed by an alphanumeric sequence that identifies the distributor, the province and the specific point. In a CAE file, the CUPS makes it possible to link the energy efficiency actuación to a specific physical installation. A poorly formatted or non-existent CUPS is grounds for immediate rejection. The current regulations require this data to be verifiable and consistent with the location declared in the file.

Why does CAE management software replace Excel for installers?

Managing CAE files in spreadsheets involves concrete risks: formula errors in the savings calculation, forgetting mandatory documents, incorrect file nomenclature and lack of traceability. Specialized software like CertificAhorro solves each of these points: automatic calculation with the official IDAE fichas, integrated document checklist, generation of the ZIP compliant with the MITECO nomenclature and a record of every action on the file. The CertificAhorro Intelligence module also lets you upload an invoice or technical sheet so that Intelligence automatically detects the actuación and pre-fills the file data, saving up to 30 minutes per file.