Electric Steam Boilers: France Pays to Electrify Your Industry (IND-UT-141)

Starting September 5, 2026, a French industrial facility that replaces its gas boiler with an electric boiler can receive more than €100,000 for every half megawatt installed. This is the new IND-UT-141 subsidy program. In many cases, the subsidy covers the cost of the steam generator. We’ll explain it all in five minutes: what it is, how much it provides, what requirements must be met, and whether it will come to Spain.

What is IND-UT-141, in three sentences?

In France, energy suppliers (the “obligés”) are required by law to meet an energy-saving quota. They meet this quota by funding energy-efficiency projects in businesses and homes, which generate CEE certificates. The IND-UT-141 form is used to convert the replacement of a fuel-fired boiler with an electric boiler in industrial settings into certificates.

In other words: the energy supplier pays for part of the work in exchange for keeping the certificates.

The subsidy was announced in a separate decree, published on September 26 (AIDA/Ineris).

Does my setup qualify? Quick checklist

If you answer “yes” to all of these questions, your project is eligible.

• [ ] New electric boiler with electrodes, a jet system, or immersion heating elements, with an efficiency of at least 99%.
• [ ] Fluid at over 110 °C: steam, superheated water, or thermal fluid.
• [ ] Replaces a fuel-fired boiler: natural gas, propane, biogas, fuel oil, or biomass.
• [ ] Full electrification. Hybrid systems or resistors added to an existing gas boiler do not qualify.
• [ ] On-site fuel-fired boilers totaling less than 20 MW.
• [ ] Installed electrical power no greater than that of the boilers you are replacing.
• [ ] Preliminary sizing study, dated and signed: heat requirements by application, maximum power, and temperature.
• [ ] Monitoring: fluid temperature (for steam, a pressure sensor is sufficient) with a daily reading, and a dedicated electricity meter with readings every 10 minutes. Data retained for 6 years.

Can I keep the gas boiler? Yes, but only as a backup: it must be shut off, used for no more than 500 hours per year, and account for no more than 8% of the energy.

Will there be an inspection? Yes, for 100% of operations, on-site and once the work is completed (Appendix B of the arrêté).

How much money does that amount to?

A 500-kW electric boiler generates certificates worth about 107,000 € at current prices. For smaller capacities, the cost is about 210–250 € per installed kW.

The data sheet lists 8,600 MWh cumac for each MW installed. For capacities below 10 MW, this figure is multiplied by a bonus factor α, which nearly triples the result for small installations:

MWh cumac = 8,600 × P × α, where α = 3 − P/5 (P in MW, P ≤ 10)

Calculated at 8.60 €/MWh (Cumac), the average price on the Emmy exchange in May 2026 (Opéra Énergie).

Note: That’s the market value, not what actually goes into your account. The retailer and the intermediary who handles the paperwork take their cut, and the distribution is negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The price of the certificate also fluctuates. Even so, for an electric steam generator of a few hundred kW, the premium received by the manufacturer can cover a significant portion of the equipment’s cost—or even the entire cost.

Four Mistakes That Can Cause You to Lose Your Benefits

1. Signing the contract too early. The energy supplier must be involved before you sign (the so-called “active and incentivizing role”). If you sign before that, you’ll lose the bonus.
2. Oversizing. The electrical power cannot exceed that of the boilers you are replacing. More kW does not mean a higher incentive—it means your application will be rejected.
3. Doing things halfway. A hybrid generator or additional heating elements added to the gas boiler do not count.
4. Forgetting about monitoring. Without a dedicated meter that records data every 10 minutes and without a daily log of temperature or pressure, the inspection will not be approved.

How Giconmes Can Help You

We have been manufacturing electric steam generators since 1957. They use immersion heating elements, one of the three technologies listed in the fact sheet. Here is what we contributed to the IND-UT-141 project:

• The right equipment. Electric steam generators ranging from a few kW to several MW (NGV and HGV series), made of carbon steel or stainless steel.
• Sizing. We help you quantify your steam requirements by application, maximum power, and pressure. This forms the basis of the preliminary study required by the technical specifications and ensures you do not exceed the power limit.
• A system ready for inspection. We can supply the generator with a dedicated electricity meter, pressure sensor, and data logger already integrated. With Giconmes Connect, the data is stored and accessible.
• A risk-free transition. We propose using your gas boiler as a backup, within the limits specified in the technical data sheet.
• Coordination with your CEE intermediary. We provide the technical documentation and quote in the format and at the time required for the application, without signing anything prematurely.

Do you have a gas boiler that produces steam in France? Write to us, and we’ll let you know within 48 hours what power rating is right for you and what subsidy you can expect.

Will it come to Spain?

Our take: something similar is possible, but not in the short term or on this scale.

Spain already has an equivalent system: Energy Savings Certificates (CAE), regulated by Royal Decree 36/2023. They work the same way: energy suppliers have savings obligations and fulfill them by financing projects using standardized forms. The catalog is updated frequently; the most recent partial revision was in June 2026 (BOE).

The difference lies in what is rewarded:

The Spanish system measures kWh saved. An electric resistance boiler has an efficiency of nearly 100%, compared to 85–92% for a high-quality gas boiler. There is a net energy savings, but it is small. That is why, in Spain today, electrification with certificates is primarily channeled through heat pumps, as in the case of the IND040 fact sheet explained by Repsol.

France has made a political decision: to incentivize the decarbonization of industrial heat even if the energy savings are modest. For Spain to do the same, it would have to change the calculation criteria or create a new form with a special factor. There are no public indications that this will happen.

What you can do today in Spain:

• Apply for CAE through the “singular action” pathway, which evaluates actual measured savings. This is a good fit if your current boiler is old or has significant heat loss.
• Combine CAE grants with other industrial decarbonization incentives when they become available.
• Prepare the project now: if a Spanish application form becomes available, those who have their needs assessment and consumption data ready will have the advantage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it suitable for a new building?

This product is designed to replace fuel-fired boilers. Check with your dealer regarding your specific situation before proceeding.

Is it suitable for hot water at 90 °C?

No. The fluid must exceed 110 °C.

Who receives the incentive payment?

Typically, the energy supplier or broker handles the certificates and pays you, as the business owner, the agreed-upon portion. Make sure to put this in writing before signing.

How long does this last?

Until August 31, 2031, but the market is already in motion: intermediaries are preparing applications now.

In summary

France pays to electrify industrial steam—and pays well: about €107,000 gross per 500 kW. The conditions are strict but clear. In Spain, for now, we must take a unique approach and be prepared.

Do you have a project in France or Spain? Contact Giconmes, and we’ll evaluate it with you.