By Vangelis Dourakis

In his “shadow”. “Save 2025” opens from Monday – for technical reasons the opening of the program has been postponed from today to Monday 13 January – and the application platform for the program “I am changing the Heating System and Water Heater”. Through this program those who want to install heat pumps are subsidized with amounts up to 7,440 euros. Those seeking to install a solar water heater are supported with an amount up to 1,041 euros. The grant in substance covers 50% to 60% of the total expenditure.

In addition, the possibility of replacing energy-consuming electric heaters of old technology is provided, without this being a prerequisite for participation in the program.

What is funded and who applies

In any case, the grant concerns:

  • purchase of a new modern technology solar water heater, at a rate of 50% or 60%, with the exact rate being determined based on income criteria.
  • purchase of a new heat pump system, at a rate of 50% (including e.g. outdoor unit, fan coil, piping).
  • performing necessary additional installation work of eligible equipment (e.g. transport costs, installation costs, consumables, accessories, smart system [χρονοδιακόπτη] etc.), at a rate of 50% or 60% (depending on the income criteria).

The beneficiaries of the Program are domestic consumers who wish to install a new technology solar water heater and/or a new heat pump system in their home (including a rented/free-granted home).

Financing applications are submitted by individual Natural Persons who reside permanently in Greece. In order for a Natural Person to apply the following conditions must be met cumulatively:

  • Must have a Tax Registry Number, as well as valid access codes to AADE’s electronic services, through which personal information can be identified through OPS.
  • To have submitted in the reference year (tax year 2023) an income tax return (E1), either as an OBLIGATOR of an individual or joint return, or indirectly as “SPOUSE/MSO1” in the case of a joint return. The related statement should have been cleared.

The solar water heater should be energy class C or better (C, B, A), with a capacity >110 liters. In the heat pump, the energy class must be A+ or better.

Who have priority and who “win” as much as €7,440

In the context of “Change Heating System and Water Heaters”, emphasis is placed on the potential beneficiaries of another program, “Recycle – Change Water Heaters” with unredeemed vouchers.

In particular, interested parties who had not redeemed the vouchers are invited to submit a new application, using the same VAT number.

Funding applications from interested parties will only be submitted electronically from 13.1.2025 to 31.3.2025 and mandatory through the program’s official website (https://allazothermansi-thermosifona.gov.gr).

Funding applications are evaluated comparatively and the existence or non-existence of disabled member(s) in the family is taken into account, if the application concerns families with three or more dependent children, if the residence is in atmospherically burdened regions (only for the new heat pump system), in areas with a high number of degree days.

But how can a beneficiary receive the maximum grant amount?

Example #1: beneficiary of the first income category (subsidy rate 60% for those who individually declare under €5,000 per year or €10,000 family) gets a solar water heater from a supplier of his choice. In a case where the VAT is 24%, the beneficiary can be subsidized up to the maximum amount (public expenditure) of € 1,041.60 which results as follows: Net product amount: € 840, Product VAT: € 201.60 (24% VAT applied to the above value = subsidy on VAT) Total: €1,041.60 (maximum grant amount – TOTAL)

Example #2: beneficiary procures a heat pump system from a supplier of his choice. In addition, he receives a grant for the provision of services from the same supplier. In a case where the VAT is 24%, the beneficiary can be subsidized up to the maximum amount of €7,440 which is calculated as follows: Net product amount: €5,000 Product VAT: €1,200 (24% VAT applied to the above value) Net amount of services : €1,000, VAT services: €240 (24% VAT applied to the above value = grant on top of VAT) Total: €7,440 (maximum grant amount – TOTAL).