BGN 610 million is available to municipalities for replacing stoves with pellets, heat pumps and connection to thermal power plants, as well as photovoltaics for the energy poor

Raya Lecheva

Applications are being opened today for municipalities under the measure with a resource of BGN 610 million to replace the old inefficient wood and coal stoves with new ones such as pellet stoves, highly efficient heat pumps and connection to the CHP. This became clear at a press conference of the Acting Minister of Environment and Water, Rositsa Karamfilova, who announced the start of the procedure.

From today, municipalities will be able to submit applications in the ISUN system, and the deadline for this is six months. According to data from the Eco-Ministry, there are currently risks to air quality in 21 municipalities and the average hourly standards for air quality are not being met. However, the eco-minister emphasized that there is great progress, and the average daily requirements are within the norms. But they are far from meeting the requirements of the World Health Organization.

Bulgaria was acquitted and will not pay fines after the European Commission filed a case against our country for non-fulfilment of air cleanliness standards. The good news is that we will not pay penalties for air pollution, which on an annual basis would have been BGN 20 million, and the progress, air quality should continue to improve until all standards are met. Under the new "Environment" program, the requirement to monitor the results 5 years ago is introduced, due to which not 8 as in the previous period, but all 21 municipalities with air quality problems are defined.

The old appliances must be dismantled

Thus, 85,000 households in 21 municipalities will have the opportunity to receive energy-efficient heating devices and electric lines. The Ministry of Environment and Water assures that they have learned the lessons of the previous program and will do everything possible to avoid difficulties. First of all, a mandatory condition will be to remove the old inefficient stoves, which has not happened in all municipalities. The Ministry will provide assistance to the municipalities by starting today to send application instructions and there will be teams that will be responsible for specific municipalities and will assist them in the preparation of the project. Municipalities, on the other hand, will have to provide the opportunity for free consultations in the homes of households and provide assistance in filling out the application forms.

Replacement of appliances with RES for energy-poor households

On a pilot basis, it will be possible to install up to 4 KW of photovoltaics for own consumption and batteries, but only for energy-poor households, specified the head of the program, Galina Simeonova. The difference with the measure under the Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Energy is that in the measure of the eco-ministry for municipalities, funds will be allocated to energy-poor households, and this after the definition of energy poverty has been officially adopted in the legislation. Such a family will be able to replace the old stove not with an air conditioner, but with a highly efficient air-to-air heat pump with a higher efficiency factor. If the roof is theirs, it will be possible to put a photovoltaic cell to charge the heat pump. Of all 85,000, 2,000-3,000 will be energy poor and will be able to install photovoltaics, said Simeonova.

All dwellings must be suitable for the new heating method that is chosen.

The measure opens today and all municipalities must apply within 6 months, which means that implementation and replacement of the devices can begin in the fall at the earliest, Simeonova emphasized.

From today, municipalities will be able to submit applications in the ISUN system, and the deadline for this is six months. According to data from the Eco-Ministry, there are currently risks to air quality in 21 municipalities and the average hourly standards for air quality are not being met. However, the eco-minister emphasized that there is great progress, and the average daily requirements are within the norms. But they are far from meeting the requirements of the World Health Organization.

Bulgaria was acquitted and will not pay fines after the European Commission filed a case against our country for non-fulfilment of air cleanliness standards. The good news is that we will not pay penalties for air pollution, which on an annual basis would have been BGN 20 million, and the progress, air quality should continue to improve until all standards are met. Under the new "Environment" program, the requirement to monitor the results 5 years ago is introduced, due to which not 8 as in the previous period, but all 21 municipalities with air quality problems are defined.

The old appliances must be dismantled

Thus, 85,000 households in 21 municipalities will have the opportunity to receive energy-efficient heating devices and electric lines. The Ministry of Environment and Water assures that they have learned the lessons of the previous program and will do everything possible to avoid difficulties. First of all, a mandatory condition will be to remove the old inefficient stoves, which has not happened in all municipalities. The Ministry will provide assistance to the municipalities by starting today to send application instructions and there will be teams that will be responsible for specific municipalities and will assist them in the preparation of the project. Municipalities, on the other hand, will have to provide the opportunity for free consultations in the homes of households and provide assistance in filling out the application forms.

Replacement of appliances with RES for energy-poor households

On a pilot basis, it will be possible to install up to 4 KW of photovoltaics for own consumption and batteries, but only for energy-poor households, specified the head of the program, Galina Simeonova. The difference with the measure under the Recovery Plan of the Ministry of Energy is that in the measure of the eco-ministry for municipalities, funds will be allocated to energy-poor households, and this after the definition of energy poverty has been officially adopted in the legislation. Such a family will be able to replace the old stove not with an air conditioner, but with a highly efficient air-to-air heat pump with a higher efficiency factor. If the roof is theirs, it will be possible to put a photovoltaic cell to charge the heat pump. Of all 85,000, 2,000-3,000 will be energy poor and will be able to install photovoltaics, said Simeonova.

All dwellings must be suitable for the new heating method that is chosen.

The measure opens today and all municipalities must apply within 6 months, which means that implementation and replacement of the devices can begin in the fall at the earliest, Simeonova emphasized.

Procurement issues may be a major problem this program period as well

In fact, the greatest complexity is related to the need for municipalities to announce public procurements to select contractor companies that will carry out the replacement of the appliances. She emphasized that the municipalities can start preparing the public procurements or publish the applications on their pages in advance. This will be particularly easy for the six municipalities that have already participated in the program, they can continue accepting applications from citizens and continue to implement the measure after they are approved in the fall. Moreover, at the moment, in some municipalities, this measure from the previous "Environment" program is still in progress and the procedures have not been completed and there will be overlap, commented Simeonova.

But for the rest of the municipalities, which are connected for the first time, probably only at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025, people will have the opportunity to replace their appliances. Simeonova pointed out that the citizens will have clear information when the respective municipalities upload on their pages that the proposals have been approved, but this hardly means that it can happen in the fall at the earliest. In some cases, people should follow the websites of the municipalities, wider information campaigns are also planned. In reality, the replacement of heating devices will begin in the autumn of next year at the earliest.

The advice is as much as possible that public procurement for executive should be prepared in parallel so that there is no major delay.

The most, or BGN 74 million, is planned for Sofia, and between BGN 19 and 27 million for the other municipalities.

In addition, more than BGN 0.5 billion will be invested in 10 municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles for public transport, BGN 105 million for green measures in the urban environment, which will be opened in the fall and in fact in 2024, the real ones will start landscaping activities.

If the procedures are delayed or the municipalities are not active enough after two years, we are ready to reprogram and change some of the conditions so that there is no loss of funds and all municipalities can get involved, said the Acting Minister of Environment and Water.

Several more procedures are yet to be announced under the program, such as BGN 290 million for biological diversity and BGN 170 million for reducing the risk of fires and limiting damage from extreme natural phenomena, the beneficiary of which will be the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Protection of the population. They are expected to launch in May-June.

Procurement issues may be a major problem this program period as well

In fact, the greatest complexity is related to the need for municipalities to announce public procurements to select contractor companies that will carry out the replacement of the appliances. She emphasized that the municipalities can start preparing the public procurements or publish the applications on their pages in advance. This will be particularly easy for the six municipalities that have already participated in the program, they can continue accepting applications from citizens and continue to implement the measure after they are approved in the fall. Moreover, at the moment, in some municipalities, this measure from the previous "Environment" program is still in progress and the procedures have not been completed and there will be overlap, commented Simeonova.

But for the rest of the municipalities, which are connected for the first time, probably only at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025, people will have the opportunity to replace their appliances. Simeonova pointed out that the citizens will have clear information when the respective municipalities upload on their pages that the proposals have been approved, but this hardly means that it can happen in the fall at the earliest. In some cases, people should follow the websites of the municipalities, wider information campaigns are also planned. In reality, the replacement of heating devices will begin in the autumn of next year at the earliest.

The advice is as much as possible that public procurement for executive should be prepared in parallel so that there is no major delay.

The most, or BGN 74 million, is planned for Sofia, and between BGN 19 and 27 million for the other municipalities. 

In addition, more than BGN 0.5 billion will be invested in 10 municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles for public transport, BGN 105 million for green measures in the urban environment, which will be opened in the fall and in fact in 2024, the real ones will start landscaping activities.

If the procedures are delayed or the municipalities are not active enough after two years, we are ready to reprogram and change some of the conditions so that there is no loss of funds and all municipalities can get involved, said the Acting Minister of Environment and Water.

Several more procedures are yet to be announced under the program, such as BGN 290 million for biological diversity and BGN 170 million for reducing the risk of fires and limiting damage from extreme natural phenomena, the beneficiary of which will be the General Directorate of Fire Safety and Protection of the population. They are expected to launch in May-June.