The Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SEIA) has awarded over €30 million ($34.92 million) in subsidies to its denizens for purchase and installation of some 18,000 small renewable energy systems under its Green Homes program (Zelená Domácnostiam) pilot project.
In total, 3,000 PV systems were subsidized so far as well as5,000 solar collectors, 3,500 heat pumps and 1,500 biomass boilers. The project was launched in 2015 and allows owners (both individuals and legal entities) of family houses and apartment houses to apply for grants.
The program is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is a fund allocated by the European Union. Since its launch, 13,500 bills have been raised worth over €30 million ($34.92 million). Total budget of the project is €45 million ($52.4 million). According to ERDF, SEIA is aiming to open two further rounds of grant applications for more such installations outside the Bratislava region in the months to come.
The last and final round of the pilot project will be announced on August 7, 2018. The program is so popular that the allocated budget is known to get exhausted within minutes after the opening call.
The European Commission says the program can be improved regarding late payments, lack of transparency and issues related to timing and length of the open calls.
Looking at the success of the project, SEIA is preparing to continue with the project so that vouchers can be issued from 2019. The new project with a total budget of €48 million ($55.89 million) has been already approved. By 2023, the new budget could support an additional 25,000 systems.