EUR 29mn subsidies quota for households’ energy renovation booked in two hours

Croatia’s Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund stopped receiving applications for the current co-financing scheme for energy renewal of family houses as it immediately fulfilled the quota for the program’s EUR 29 million.

The Croatian Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU) said it received 7,386 applications for its co-financing program for energy renovation of family houses. This year’s round was closed in just under two hours.

The budget was increased by EUR 5.3 million to EUR 28.8 million amid expectations of strong demand, the statement adds. FZOEU said it would launch another public call in 2021.

Average request is for EUR 9,300

The first received application came from Vojnić and most were from Zagreb, Petrinja, Varaždin and Vukovar. The Osijek-Baranja county led the way on a regional level, with 802 requests. The list shows citizens submitted applications for an average of EUR 9,300, which means they plan several energy renovation measures.

Families from vulnerable groups, which are entitled to 100% of the cost, were still able to apply after the other category was halted

Most requests were for thermal insulation and the replacement of windows. The call for funds for energy renovation of family houses belonging to people from vulnerable groups, at risk of energy poverty, was still open at the time of the update. They get 100% of expenses covered.

The processing of all applications in the order of their receipt has started, and the resources under the available budget will be approved to everyone who submitted the relevant documentation, FZOEU said.

Co-financing grants cover up to 60% of expenses

The public call for online applications was issued on June 25. Grants of up to 60% of the value of the works are approved for the insulation of the building envelope, which can also include roof replacement if a heated attic is below. Window replacement can be partial if the properties of the remaining windows comply with the requirements.

The funds can cover the installation of systems for the production of energy from renewable sources, such as solar power units and pellet boilers. but only if one of the measures on the house envelope is also implemented. FZOEU has separate programs for green energy alone.