WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?

The energy audit entails an analysis of the energy efficiency of existing equipment consuming electricity and fossil fuels, the usage conditions at facilities, energy billing, etc.

 

The purpose is to optimise the existing processes and facilities in terms of energy usage and identify energy saving and efficiency measures. Once the saving potential has been identified, the audit establishes the most suitable solutions and performs a technical-economic assessment.

 

Activities that include:

Collection of all available information that could be of interest for carrying out the work (projects, schematic diagrams, usage, etc.).

Technical visits to the facilities for ascertaining equipment functioning and operating modes, and measuring energy consumption and other parameters on the main pieces of equipment or systems to be able to conduct the study.

 

Analysis of the information collected.

 

Final audit report that describes the current situation of the facilities in terms of energy usage, and proposes the different energy saving alternatives for the various systems or areas, with their corresponding expected savings potential and return on investment

 

ROYAL DECREE OBLIGATION

The audits are conducted in accordance with Spanish Royal Decree 56/2016 and meet the requirements of standards UNE-EN 16247-1:Energy audits. General requirements; UNE-EN 16247-2: Energy audits. Buildings; UNE-EN 16247-3: Energy audits. Processes; UNE-EN 16247-4: Energy Audits. Transmission.

Royal Decree 56/2016, of 12 February 2016, partially transposing Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 25 October 2012, obliges large companies to conduct an energy audit.

OBLIGATED PARTIES:

Energy audit must be conducted by companies considered to be large companies, i.e., employing at least 250 people or having a turnover greater than €50 million and a balance sheet greater than €43 million. The energy audit obligation also includes groups of companies meeting the requirements to be considered a large company when considering the aggregate figures of all the companies constituting the consolidated group.

SCOPE:

The energy audit must cover at least 85 per cent of total energy consumption of all facilities located in the country that form part of the industrial, commercial and service activities that these companies and groups manage in the execution of their economic activity.

It must be conducted in accordance with standards UNE-EN 16247-1:Energy audits. General requirements; UNE-EN 16247-2: Energy audits. Buildings; UNE-EN 16247-3: Energy audits. Processes; UNE-EN 16247-4: Energy Audits. Transmission.

DEADLINE:

The deadline for conducting the energy audit is 14 November 2016, providing it has not been conducted previously within a time frame of four years (which meets the energy requirements of this Royal Decree).

Subsequently, obligated parties must carry out an energy audit every four years as from the date of the last audit, unless they have implemented an energy or environmental management system certified by an independent body in accordance with international standards.

To access all information contained in RD 56/2016, click here [PDF].