28.09.2022.
The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund launched two new public calls worth in total 195 million kunas. The first call is for co-financing the installation of RES systems in family houses, while the other is intended solely for the energy renovation of family houses damaged in the earthquake.“Renewable energy systems are an excellent and environmentally friendly alternative to other costly energy-generating products. Their installation in family houses can ensure energy independence, they can have a favourable impact on the home budget, as well as the national targets for reducing the use of fossil fuels,” said Alenka Košiša Čičin-Šain, the acting director of the Fund, adding that as part of the Fund’s call, co-financing was available for the installation of photovoltaic power plants, and for the heating and/or hot water systems comprising thermal collectors, heat pumps, or pellet boiler stoves. Depending on the location, for these projects the citizens can get co-financing up to 40%, 60% or 80% of eligible costs. The maximum amount of the incentive is 128,00 kunas, and one of the requirements is that the house falls in the energy category (according to annual thermal energy required for heating, QH,nd) C or above in continental, or B or above in the coastal part of Croatia.
Although the call worth 95 million was launched today, given the time required to prepare the application documentation, the submission of applications will start on 15 November. The call will be open until the end of the year, ending on 31 December 2022, and all interested parties will be able to submit their applications solely by post.
The same situation applies to the citizens whose houses were damaged in the earthquake, who will be able to submit their applications for energy renovation to the Fund by 27 October. The total of HRK 100 million is at disposal for the houses in the City of Zagreb area, Zagreb County, Krapina-Zagorje County, Sisak-Moslavina County, and Karlovac County. Comprehensive energy renovation projects will be co-financed with up to 80%, and they include improvement of the thermal insulation of some envelope elements (exterior walls, roof, and/or floors), replacement of windows, as well as the installation of some type of RES systems, or the projects including only thermal insulation improvement. Individual households will be able to get up to 370,000 kunas – 368 thousand for the energy renovation measures, and 2,000 for the expert assistance in applying to the call.
Both public calls are aimed at the applicants who are owners or co-owners of family houses and have permanent residence registered at the address. In line with the Croatian Government programmes, the definition of a family house implies a structure with a valid building consent, or other act proving its legality, where more than 50% of the surface area is intended for living, and which has no more than three residential units or the gross floor surface smaller than or equal to 600 m2.
The aim of these calls is promotion of a wider use of renewable energy sources in households and ensuring that the renovation of the houses damaged in the earthquake is at the same time energy efficient. In the context of the energy crisis, these projects will speed up the green transition process. With the help of the measures being co-financed, the goal is that energy consumption in the buildings being one of the greatest consumers is reduced to a minimum, and then to ensure their energy independence taking into consideration the RES potential in different locations.
To this end, the Fund is planning to continue co-financing energy renovation in 2023. All relevant information about the programmes will be available on the Fund’s website.
