The industrial energy audit,
an operational efficiency tool
Would you like to embark on an energy transition?
An industrial audit is a crucial first step! Carried out by experts, this audit will provide you with an inventory of your consumption levels, and guide you in the actions you need to take to ensure a successful energy transition.
Energy audits to reduce excessive consumption in industry
The industrial energy audit is a process for measuring and analyzing energy consumption in installations. It ensures regulatory compliance and identifies opportunities for improvement. This approach is also one of the ways of reducing energy consumption in the industrial sector highlighted in the multi-year energy planning project currently under discussion.
18 %
Industry’s share of final energy consumption in France in 2023.
Source: SDES, Bilan énergétique de la France.
In addition to complying with regulatory requirements for eligible companies (see below), carrying out an energy audit has a number of advantages. First and foremost, it is a
An obligation for large and energy-intensive companies
By law, all companies that exceed one of the following two thresholds over two consecutive financial years must carry out an industrial energy audit every four years:
- 250 employees
or
- Sales in excess of €50m and a balance sheet in excess of €43m (these two criteria must be met for companies with fewer than 250 employees).
Newly-obligated companies have six months to carry out their first industrial energy audit.
Up to 2% of sales
Fines for breaches of obligation and failure to comply after formal notice. The amount can reach 4% of sales in the event of a repeat offence.
Source: Energy Code
Law no. 2025-391 of April 30, 2025, containing various provisions for adapting to EU law, known as the DDADUE law, introduces a new energy audit requirement. In line with the recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive, French law now requires companies consuming more than 2.75 GWh of final energy per year to carry out an energy audit. Companies eligible for this new obligation have until October 11, 2026 at the latest to carry out their first industrial energy audit.
Companies that have implemented an ISO 50001 energy management system are exempt from the obligation to carry out an industrial energy audit. The law of April 30, 2025 requires companies consuming more than 23.6 GWh per year to implement an energy management system by October 11, 2027 at the latest.
Industrial energy audits: a highly regulated process
The industrial energy audit must cover at least 80% of the final energy consumption of all the company’s facilities. All energies must be taken into account: electricity, gas, fuel oil, propane, purchased steam/hot water, fuels, etc.
The performance of an industrial energy audit is defined by NF EN 16247 standards (ranging from 1 to 4). The overall standard follows a strict sequence, the main phases of which are as follows:
- Define the scope of the audit (number of sites, energy use, etc.), its objectives and the performance indicators to be tracked.
- Collect energy consumption data. Existing data provide a good basis. Site visits are also required to take additional readings, inspect installations and talk to the people in charge of their operation. In industry, energy consumption linked to production, distribution and utilities use is considered (steam, compressed air, chilled water, hot water, etc.). Metering and measurement resources are fundamental, and the auditor will base himself on existing resources, supplementing them as necessary with measurements taken during the site visit or specific measurement campaigns.
- Draw up an initial energy balance based on the data collected. This assessment must include an analysis of historical energy consumption, an evaluation of the correct operation and sizing of installations in relation to actual needs. It also includes the calculation of energy performance indicators to enable comparisons with a standard reference.
- List actions to reduce energy consumption. The economic interest of the various operations must be analyzed on the basis of their investment cost, operating costs, the amount of any financial assistance and the savings generated. The return on investment of the various actions will enable an initial order of priority to be established, supplemented by other qualitative criteria (ease of implementation, secondary impacts, etc.).
- Write the audit report, which draws up an energy portrait of the company, assesses the potential for energy savings and proposes a list of actions.
- Submit the industrial energy audit report on the Agence de la transition énergétique platform. This last step is mandatory only in the case of a regulatory audit. This platform is also a resource center for energy audits and their implementation.
ADEME finances voluntary industrial energy audits
For industrial companies not subject to a mandatory audit, ADEME offers financial assistance for carrying out an energy audit. The agency can cover costs up to a maximum of :
- 60% for large companies.
- 70% for medium-sized companies.
- 80% for small businesses.
Grants are awarded by ADEME’s regional offices. They are granted on acceptance of an application. Full details of how to apply are available on the ADEME platform. The aid program runs until December 31, 2025.
Call on qualified personnel for your industrial energy audit
The industrial energy audit must be carried out by a qualified auditor. There are two ways of doing this:
Dametis obtained this certification in 2022. It reassures our customers in their choice of service providers capable of carrying out theirenergy efficiency projects.
