Albania to subsidize solar thermal collectors for households with up to 70%

Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy is conducting a program for the installation of solar thermal collectors for households. The program will cover 70% of the expenses.

Heating water accounts for 20% of households’ energy bills in Albania, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania Belinda Balluku said and announced that her ministry would cover 70% of the cost for 2,000 users to equip their homes with solar thermal collectors. Such systems use solar energy to heat water with panels and store it in insulated tanks.

The program is aimed at reducing electricity consumption, improving the supply of hot sanitary water and lowering carbon dioxide emissions, said the Energy Efficiency Agency (EEA or AEE). It launched a call for firms to qualify to be included in the list on authorized suppliers and installers. The deadline for applications is October 18.

Companies can qualify to participate in the program by October 18

The selected companies will be obligated to deliver and set up stainless steel 200-liter water tanks with high resistance to rust. The required warranty for the equipment is five to seven years.

The approved total cost per solar collector system is EUR 1,200 excluding value-added tax. The list of certified firms will be published by October 30, the agency said.

According to Solar Heat Europe, Cyprus had the highest installed capacity per 1,000 inhabitants in 2000 in the European Union – 704 kW. Greece, Albania’s neighbor, was second in the solar collector segment, with 325.7 kW.