New aid to renew hospitality equipment and reduce energy consumption

The hospitality sector has had access to a new line of aid since August, designed to promote equipment upgrades and improve the energy efficiency of establishments.

The Ministry of Industry and Tourism has launched a €15 million stimulus plan to help accommodation and restaurant establishments replace equipment and machinery with more energy-efficient solutions.

The measure is regulated by Royal Decree 638/2026, of July 29, published in the Official State Gazette, and aims to reduce energy costs for hospitality businesses and promote the modernization and competitiveness of the sector.

Aid may cover up to 100% of eligible costs, with a minimum amount of 5,000 euros and a maximum of 11,000 euros per establishment, not including VAT.

The aid is granted only once per establishment. In the case of companies that have several establishments, aid may be requested for each of them, as long as they correspond to different establishments.

The program has a total budget of 15 million euros and is processed through a direct award procedure, so applications that meet the requirements will be attended to in order of presentation until the available funds are exhausted.

The program is geared towards replacing equipment with more energy-efficient alternatives. The actions included are:

• Replacing appliances and industrial catering equipment with lower energy consumption models.
• Upgrading air conditioning units to more efficient ones.
• Replacing awnings and parasols with more efficient solutions.
• Incorporating materials and implementing measures that contribute to improving the establishment's efficiency and sustainability.
• Implementing specific digital tools designed to optimize energy use.

In all cases, the action must result in verifiable energy savings. Furthermore, equipment that uses fossil fuels, including natural gas, is expressly excluded.

For a hospitality establishment, equipment upgrades can represent an opportunity to address some of the elements that directly impact energy consumption.

Replacing outdated equipment with more efficient solutions not only reduces consumption but also modernizes facilities, improves their operation, and adapts the establishment to current efficiency and sustainability requirements.

In this regard, this call for proposals may be particularly relevant for establishments planning to renovate their facilities soon or that have already made investments during 2026.

The aid is not limited to the cost of acquiring the new equipment. The Royal Decree considers eligible expenses, among others, the costs of carrying out the works or installations, the management of waste generated by the renovation, and certain professional costs related to energy efficiency certification.

Application processing and justification costs may also be included, although they are subject to certain limits established by the regulations.

A particularly relevant aspect is that expenses corresponding to eligible actions carried out from March 1, 2026, onward can be included. Therefore, the aid is not necessarily limited to investments that are still pending.

These benefits are available to individuals, legal entities, joint ownership communities, and civil partnerships without legal personality that own hospitality establishments located in Spain and are registered for the economic activities covered by the Royal Decree.

The included National Classification of Economic Activities (CNAE) codes are related to:

• Hotels and similar accommodations.
• Tourist accommodations and other short-stay accommodations.
• Campsites.
• Restaurants and food stalls.
• Catering services.
• Beverage services.

The business activity must be registered before submitting the application.

Applications can be submitted from August 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. until September 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., unless available funds are exhausted beforehand.

It is important to note that applications are processed in the order in which complete applications are received. For this reason, it is not advisable to wait until the last minute to prepare and submit the documentation.

The entire process is carried out electronically through the portal provided by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

What documentation is required?

The documentation that must accompany the application includes a descriptive report of the project, which must explain the investment and justify the expected or achieved energy savings.

The method for demonstrating these savings will depend on the type of equipment. When the equipment is subject to the energy labeling system, the improvement must be justified by comparing the existing equipment with the new equipment. For equipment not included in this system, a technical expert report based on the technical specifications of both pieces of equipment will be required.

Additional documentation, such as proof of business activity and the corresponding budget or invoice for the work, must also be submitted.

Once the grant is awarded, it will be necessary to provide proof of the work carried out, the payment of expenses, and the energy savings achieved. In the case of machinery or appliance replacement, proof of proper waste management through an authorized waste management company must also be provided.

This new funding program will boost equipment upgrades in a sector where energy consumption represents a significant portion of operating costs.

Beyond the subsidy itself, equipment upgrades can be an opportunity to analyze the overall operation of facilities and invest in solutions that allow for more efficient work, adapt consumption to demand, and reduce energy costs.

In hospitality establishments, aspects such as air conditioning, ventilation, and smoke extraction can have a significant impact on consumption. Incorporating efficient equipment and regulation and control systems optimizes their operation and prevents unnecessary consumption.

Therefore, this call for proposals can be an opportunity for restaurants, hotels, and other establishments in the sector to consider upgrading their facilities from a holistic perspective of efficiency, sustainability, and reduced operating costs.

The Emergency Plan for equipment renewal in the hospitality sector has a budget of €15 million and offers grants of between €5,000 and €11,000 per establishment, with funding that can reach 100% of the eligible investment.

With applications open until September 30, 2026—or until the funds are exhausted—this is a particularly attractive opportunity for establishments planning to renew equipment or facilities and that can demonstrate an improvement in energy efficiency.

Before making an investment, it is advisable to review the conditions established in the Royal Decree and verify that the planned work and equipment meet all the required criteria.

More information and application details: