Industrial decarbonization: New support scheme for electric boilers

New financial support is now available to help industries decarbonize using electric boilers. Which installations are eligible for Energy Savings Certificates (CEE), and what conditions must be met to qualify?

Fabien Gélisse
Consultant HSE
Publication : 
19.10.2026
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🔎 Key takeaways

  • As of September 5, 2026, the CEE IND-UT-141 sheet supports the installation of industrial electric boilers for producing heat transfer fluid at temperatures above 110°C.
  • The program targets full electrification : replacing all fuel-fired boilers in the relevant network or installing them at a new site, for an expansion, or for a new heat requirement.
  • Partial replacements and hybrid systems are excluded, and the total capacity of the boilers involved must remain below 20 MW.
  • The support is available for operations initiated up until September 1, 2031, subject to requirements including a sizing study and the installation of metering devices.

Please note: This article concerns French legislation. The requirements described may not apply in other countries.

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Since September 5, 2026, industrial companies have had access to a new support mechanism for decarbonizing their operations.

A new operation covered by the Energy Savings Certificate (CEE) scheme has been added to the list of standardized operations eligible under the policy for industrial decarbonization.

This sheet, titled IND-UT-141 "Industrial Electric Boiler," allows industrial companies, under certain conditions, to receive financial aid for installing a new industrial electric boiler or for replacing boilers that run on gas, fuel oil, or other fuels.

This sheet applies to operations initiated between September 5, 2026, and September 1, 2031.

Eligible operations

The eligible operations consist of the full electrification of heat transfer fluid production at temperatures above 110°C (steam, superheated water, or thermal fluid):

  1. By replacing all fuel-fired boilers at a site supplying the relevant heat transfer fluid with one or more electric boilers; or
  2. By installing one or more electric boilers at a new site, for a site expansion, or for the creation of a new heat requirement.

Note: Backup equipment for the site's heat transfer fluid production may not be replaced.

Operations consisting of the partial replacement of one or more fuel-fired boilers with one or more electric boilers at an existing site, or the addition of one or more electric boilers to an existing site, are therefore excluded.

Also excluded are:

  • hybrid generators combining a combustion system with an integrated electric device (immersion heater(s) integrated into the heating unit);
  • the addition of electrical equipment directly onto the body of an existing fuel-fired boiler.

Conditions for issuing CEEs

To qualify, the following conditions must be met, among others:

  • No fuel-fired boiler may be installed on the site to supply the network for this heat transfer fluid, except for backup purposes, from the completion of the operation and for the duration of the standardized sheet's conventional lifespan;
  • The heat transfer fluid must meet heat requirements for industrial processes, domestic hot water, and/or space heating within the site's perimeter;
  • Before the operation is carried out, the total nominal thermal power of the site's fuel-fired boilers must be less than 20 MW. After the operation, the total nominal thermal power of the electric boilers installed on the site must also be less than 20 MW. In the case of a replacement, the total nominal thermal power of the installed electric boilers must be less than or equal to that of the replaced boilers;
  • The equipment must be installed by a professional following a preliminary sizing study;
  • A device for measuring the temperature of the heat transfer fluid (or a pressure sensor for steam) and a device for measuring the electric boiler's electricity consumption must be installed.

Overview of the CEE scheme

Pursuant to Law No. 2005-781 of July 13, 2005, establishing energy policy guidelines, energy suppliers (distributors of electricity, gas, heat, and cold, as well as distributors of domestic heating oil and automotive fuels) are subject to energy savings obligations over three-year periods. 

Energy suppliers, known as "obligated parties," have the freedom to choose how to meet this obligation. They may: 

  • purchase energy savings certificates from other non-obligated parties;
  • finance thermal renovation work for businesses and individuals;
  • use an agent or delegate to produce and submit CEEs.

In fact, in addition to energy suppliers (as "obligated parties"), local authorities, the ANAH (National Housing Agency), and social landlords (as "eligible parties") can also benefit from CEEs in exchange for energy-saving measures.

CEEs can be issued:

  • either as part of standardized energy savings operations,
  • or as part of specific operations (if the action is not covered by a standardized operation),
  • or finally, as part of contributions to programs for installing equipment that replaces a non-renewable energy source with a renewable one for heating or cooling in agricultural, commercial, or residential premises.