The boiler subsidy scheme

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Narrative

This scheme aimed to support replacing substandard solid fuel heating sources in family homes to reduce pollutant emissions in the region. The eligible end-users of the funds were the individuals/households. Among the supported heat sources were biomass boilers, electric and gas heat pumps, and gas boilers.

Financial data

During three calls for proposals with a total financial allocation of CZK 11.8 billion (EUR 500 million), over CZK 11 billion (EUR 466 million) have been paid out.

Recommendations

The original intention of this programme was to improve air quality, reduce emissions of air pollutants with an emphasis on using new, environmentally friendly methods of energy production and improve the air quality monitoring systems. Gas boilers, however, are not ecologically friendly and should not be supported by public finance. This creates a false sustainability discourse among the population, who might fall into the trap of believing that these are climate-positive measures. In the wake of the war in Ukraine, gas boilers were excluded from the EU financing and cannot be financed in the Operation Programme Environment for the 2021 to 2027 period.