The Basque Country launches a new program to promote energy efficiency.

The Basque government will allocate 90 million euros to promote energy efficiency projects in its municipal network

The year begins, and the Basque Country kicks off with a program to promote energy efficiency, the installation of renewable energy sources, and sustainable mobility, aimed at various local entities such as city councils, intermunicipal associations, administrative boards, municipal public companies, foundations, and consortia.Basque Energy Agency (EVE)It will be the public agent in charge of managing the 90 million euros allocated to this program, framed within the Energy Sustainability Law, which is based on repayable advances of 70% of the total cost of the projects at zero interest and which will be in force until its budget is exhausted.

Therefore, the aid will be allocated to areas such as promoting energy efficiency, outdoor lighting, andbuilding efficiencyThe thermal envelope or the installation of renewable energy sources. On this last point, regarding the installation of green energy, the EVE reports that it will promote the deployment of small-scale electricity generation facilities such as photovoltaic, wind, or mini-hydroelectric plants; as well as facilities for thermal production such as biomass, heat pumps, aerothermal, or geothermal.

How the program works

The program, which will review applications in the order they are received, will prioritize these types of projects in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. These municipalities could receive a 30% increase in the repayable advances for the submitted project costs, the standard repayment of which is 70% of the total cost for all municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants. In towns with populations between 5,000 and 20,000, the increase over the standard repayment would be 20%.

The general limits for this aid are set at a maximum repayable amount of €1 million per project, with a maximum of €10 million per beneficiary, and a minimum investment of €50,000. Previously, €10 million has been allocated for the preparation of the various preliminary energy studies and audits required to plan the projects in question.