The program of the Ministry of Environment and Energy: “I change device for businesses” was pre-published on Thursday. with a budget of 105.6 million euros. The initiative is implemented in the framework of the action: “Saving – Doing Business”, with the support of the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

The pre-publication of the program has been posted on the official website of the Ministry. The time period for submitting applications will be determined during the announcement, which is expected to be signed, soon, by the Minister of Environment and Energy, Mr. Thodoros Skylakakis and by the Deputy Minister of National Economy & Finance, Mr. Nikos Papathanasis.

The aim of the program is to improve the energy efficiency of businesses and reduce primary energy consumption and consequently carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – at least by 30% for each business.

With this data, the benefiting companies will receive support in order to install energy-efficient equipment, regarding the following:

  • Heating systems using heat pumps (including solar thermal systems for increasing the efficiency of heat pumps and through heat storage)
  • Solar heating systems
  • Smart energy meters (behind the grid meter)
  • Other energy-saving interventions, through the installation of energy-efficient equipment and systems to save energy in the production, storage, distribution of products, as well as the operation of companies

The beneficiaries

The program is aimed at existing businesses – small (including very small), medium and large – that are active in the Greek Territory with a Greek VAT number, are active on the date of submission of the application for participation and have been established until 31.12.2023.

The businesses in question will be able to submit a single financing application per VAT number. In addition, they should have issued the 1st Energy Performance Certificate (PEA – or the Energy Audit, if required based on the expenditure categories) of the installation implementing the investment or submit it within 20 days from the moment of submission of the provisional application for participation.

Reinforcement height

The exact amount of the aid will be determined, taking into account: the size of each enterprise, the aid rate and the maximum budget of eligible costs (subject to not exceeding the ceiling of accumulation of EC 2831/2023 de minimis).

In particular, to improve their energy efficiency, small businesses will be able to submit applications, with a maximum eligible expenditure budget of 20,000 euros. The aid rate is set at 50%, so they will be able to receive up to 10,000 euros. Medium and large enterprises, respectively, will be able to submit applications with a maximum eligible expenditure budget of 25,000 euros. In the case of these, the aid rate is 40%. Therefore, interested companies will also be able to receive up to 10,000 euros in support.

Eligible expenses

Each funding application concerns the aid:

i. equipment expense:

  • purchase of a new heating system using heat pumps
  • purchase of a new solar heating system
  • purchase of smart devices for measuring energy consumption (behind the grid meter)
  • other energy saving interventions

ii. service costs:

  • performing the necessary additional work for the installation of the new equipment (e.g. cost of transportation, installation, configuration of the new equipment (heat pump, solar thermal system, solar heating system, smart meter, etc.)
  • issuing two PEAs, for the facility implementing the investment declared in the application
  • implementation of an Energy Audit (before the start of the investment and following it, respectively the procedure for the PEAs), which is eligible, only in the case where there are costs of the category of costs of other energy saving interventions

It is noted that the supplied equipment it should be modern, new, untouched and in business ownership. VAT is not eligible, as well as maintenance and repair costs of equipment already in use by the business are not eligible.

The start date of expenditure eligibility is defined as the date of the publication of the detailed announcement of the program and the end date of expenditure eligibility is the final date of implementation of the investment, based on the inclusion decision.

The duration of the implementation of the interventions in each application cannot exceed 6 months from its approval in the program.

Submission of applications

Businesses wishing to participate in “Change device for businesses” will submit a funding application through its online platform when the program is activated. The program will apply the direct evaluation method (First in – First out).