- Endesa X has analysed real data from more than 3,500 business customers throughout the country and from different sectors, including industry, hospitality, commerce, and agriculture and livestock farming.
- 38% of the companies analysed have incorporated energy efficiency improvements in recent years, and business awareness of the need to consume more responsibly and sustainably is also growing.
- 23% have a potential saving of more than 20% in their energy consumption.
The 3rd Report on the Energy Performance of Spanish Companies prepared by Endesa X, Endesa's energy services subsidiary, reveals that 28% of companies could optimise their energy procurement and that 24% have phantom or unnecessary consumption, so improving these aspects could save energy for the planet and also reduce costs.
These are two of the main conclusions of this report, which aims to assess the savings potential of the country's companies. Although there is still a long way to go, 38% of the companies analysed have already incorporated energy efficiency measures between 2019 and 2021. During the first few years, they did so on a more ad hoc basis to improve a specific installation, but over the years, the concept of constant improvement and optimisation of consumption, as well as awareness of the need to consume more responsibly, has led to a change towards a more global vision of energy efficiency and, consequently, decarbonisation. By way of example, 31% of companies have changed the way they consume energy by eliminating unnecessary consumption, 18% their way of contracting, 15% their electrical installations and, although more timidly, 3-4% have implemented renewable energy projects.
The report, which was recently released after extensive analysis, is based on real data from more than 3,500 companies, Endesa's customers, which are distributed throughout the territory and from various sectors, including industrial, hospitality, retail, agricultural and livestock farming. The data was obtained from monitoring, diagnostics and energy audits of installations, as well as information on the investment and payback period associated with the energy efficiency measures implemented.
In this regard, it has been found that 23% of companies have a potential saving of more than 20% in their energy consumption, which shows that there is significant scope for savings either in measures focused on improving energy efficiency - with its consequent reduction in consumption - or by investment in new energy assets, which reduce energy consumption and are a commitment to the decarbonisation of companies' production processes.
As an example, investments in measures aimed at reducing consumption pay off in energy savings in a short period of time. In fact, 68% of the measures analysed have a Return on Investment (ROI) of less than 4 years, reaching 88% in 2021.
Energy efficiency improvement measures
- 1 out of 4 companies have phantom consumption, produced when appliances consume energy, even though they are not being used, which means an extra cost on the bill and unnecessary CO2 emissions.
- One of the most effective solutions to avoid this is to implement Energy Management or Control & Monitoring Systems. 25% of the companies that have opted for these solutions have achieved direct savings of more than 5,000 euros, with a Return on Investment of less than four years in virtually all cases.
- Checking electrical installations (in addition to responding to safety criteria) is a measure which, by adopting the necessary actions in the electrical panel and/or in the frequency inverter, leads to savings of more than 2,500 euros in 56% of cases, with a Return on Investment of less than four years in three out of four cases analysed.
Decarbonization projects
- 72% of the companies that have undertaken air conditioning improvement projects have achieved savings of more than 5,000 euros, amortising the investment in less than four years in 83% of the cases and have managed to reduce their carbon footprint.
- As for heat recovery projects in the industrial sector, in addition to being an example of decarbonisation and circular economy by reverting the heat dissipated into the atmosphere into an energy source for the company, they represent savings of more than 5,000 euros in 78% of the projects.
- Investment in solar photovoltaics for self-consumption is the technology that stands out among renewable energy projects. All energy generated and self-consumed is energy with 0 carbon emissions, in addition to reducing energy dependence. In two out of three cases, they represent savings of more than 5,000 euros, recovering their investment in less than six years and reducing their energy dependence.
Most Implemented Efficiency Measures, Sector by Sector
Thanks to the energy monitoring, diagnostics and audits that Endesa X has carried out on customers, data has been obtained on the potential efficiency measures that companies can implement to be more efficient, especially large companies, as since the entry into force of Royal Decree-Law 56/2016 on energy efficiency, those with more than 250 workers and/or a turnover of more than €50M and a balance sheet greater than €43M are obliged to carry out an energy audit every four years or implement an Energy or Environmental Management System. Just this coming year, in 2024, the vast majority of these companies will have to carry out an energy audit to avoid facing a penalty of up to 60,000 euros.
- Industrial
The industrial sector stands out for its intensive use of energy and its savings potential is higher than that of the other sectors. Among the most common measures to improve energy efficiency are the knowledge and control of consumption, and the installation of renewable energies. Specifically, the knowledge and control of consumption measure is the most common, representing around 20%, and of these, the majority (84%) show savings of more than 5,000 euros when they implement measures.
It also highlights the savings potential of photovoltaic projects that are gradually being incorporated in the industrial sector
- Hospitality industry
The hospitality industry stands out for solar photovoltaic projects with potential savings of more than 2,500 euros in 50% of the cases, and more than 5,000 euros in 25% of them. By making themselves known as sustainable and environmentally responsible establishments to their customers, more and more establishments are opting for self-consumption as a differentiating factor.
In addition, 32% of the measures carried out are associated with air-conditioning improvement projects. All the cases analysed exceed 10% of the initial energy cost savings.
- Commercial
In the retail sector, 38% of the measures analysed are aimed at improving air-conditioning efficiency of their facilities, with savings of more than 2,500 in one out of three cases, rising to 43% when associated with equipment changes.
Secondly, 27% of businesses focus on improving the way they contract and 26% focus on improving the way they consume energy.
- Agriculture and livestock
34% of the agricultural and livestock companies analysed are oriented towards projects to improve the efficiency of the air conditioning of their facilities, while 33% focus on improving the way they contract and 23% are oriented towards improving the way they consume energy.
About Endesa
Endesa is a leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. In addition, it is the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. It undertakes end-to-end business including the generation, distribution and retailing of electricity. It also offers, through Endesa X, value-added services aimed at the electrification of energy uses in homes, companies, industries and public administrations, including electric mobility, where it is one of the main operators of charging points in Spain. Endesa is firmly committed to the United Nations' SDGs and, as such, is strongly promoting the development of renewable energies through Enel Green Power España, the digitalisation of networks through e-distribution, and Corporate Social Responsibility. The Endesa Foundation is also active in CSR. Our team totals around 9,260 employees. Endesa is part of Enel, Europe's largest electricity group.
Endesa X is Endesa's business line dedicated to energy efficiency. Endesa X is a division of Enel X Global Retail and a leader in the development of innovative solutions in support of the energy transition. It is aimed at consumers, companies and administrations through a modular and integrated offer based on their needs and promoting the electrification of energy uses and digitalisation as drivers of new value creation. Endesa X's ecosystem of solutions includes products and services for the optimisation and self-generation of electricity and premium energy efficiency solutions, with the aim of helping customers draw up their energy roadmap. Globally, Enel X Global Retail manages demand response services, with 8.1 GW of total capacity. It has installed more than 3 million street lighting points worldwide and provides energy services to 67 million residential customers on a daily basis.