Catalan Institute for Energy

The Institut Català d’Energia (ICAEN) is the entity of the Catalan Government in charge of drawing up and carrying out the Catalan energy policy, especially in the field of energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies.  

ICAEN is a public corporation with its own legal status, set up by the Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia, and created by the Parliament of Catalonia in 1991. 

Activities 

ICAEN acts in many areas related to energy. Some of its activities include:  

• Promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energies in all economic sectors and among the citizens of Catalonia; 

• Development of support and advisory programs in energy matters for industry, building, transport, the primary sector, and citizens; 

• Elaboration of the energy statistics of Catalonia; 

• Elaboration of energy Planning and the energy perspective of Catalonia; 

• Integration and coordination of Catalan energy planning with other Catalan sectoral planning and policies (environment, urban planning, territorial planning, climate change, transport policies, housing, agriculture, forestry…); 

• Elaboration of legislative, regulatory and normative initiatives within the framework of the competences of the Government of Catalonia in the field of energy; 

• Development of sectoral energy policies, in collaboration with the different units of the Government of Catalonia; 

• Design and management of the Energy Efficiency Plan for the buildings of the Government of Catalonia and coordination of its application; 

• Management of the Energy Performance Certification register of new and existing buildings; 

• Development of information, training and promotion campaigns in the energy field aimed at companies and professionals as well as citizens in general; 

• Collaboration with local administrations in the development and implementation of their Sustainable Energy Action Plans within the framework of the EU Covenant of Mayors 

Projects 

ICAEN is involved in the development of projects that promote topics like energy efficiency and renewable energies. Its plans and programmes have included:  

• Prospectiva Energètica de Catalunya 2050 (PROENCAT) – a strategic plan approved by the Government of Catalonia that aims to guide Catalonia’s energy transition towards a decarbonised and sustainable model by 2050. 

• Sectoral Territorial Plan for the Implementation of Renewable Energies in Catalonia (PLATER) – The sectoral territorial plan that will organise renewable energies in Catalonia, making land uses compatible with environmental, agricultural, cultural, social and technical factors. 

• Integrated Energy and Climate Plan of Catalonia 2030 (PINECCAT) – a strategic roadmap to transform Catalonia’s energy system and face the effects of climate change.   

• Catalan Biogas Strategy 2024-2030 – a strategy aims to promote the recovery of livestock manure and organic waste to obtain biogas and use it for the generation of heat, electricity or biomethane, and biofertilizers.