On Thursday 17 October, the European Commission published the first in “a series of” guidance documents to help Member States transpose and implement the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (see EUROPE 13390/20) into national law.
The document specifically targets the obligation, set out in Article 17 of the Directive, to remove all financial incentives for the installation of new stand-alone fossil fuel boilers by1 January 2025 at the latest.
In particular, it clarifies the definitions of “stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels” and “hybrid heating system”, as well as the concepts of “installation” and “financial incentives”.
The Commission explains, by way of example, that no subsidies, preferential loans or tax incentives may be granted for “the purchase, assembly and putting into operation of a boiler that burns natural gas, oil or coal”.
This means that no public body should provide economic support or support from public resources to purchasers, installers or third parties for the installation of this type of boiler.
The document also states that hybrid heating systems that combine a boiler and a heat generator using renewable energy can only be encouraged if the proportion of renewable energy is considerable.
Other forms of incentives may also be maintained, for example where they have already been granted at national, regional and/or local level and communicated to an individual beneficiary.
To see the guidance document: https://aeur.eu/f/dxm (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)