Background information

The Greek government on 4 May 2023, with the Ministerial Decision No. 49768/740 (Government Gazette 3049/8.5.2023/ B), announced the "Recycle - change water heater" programme, which will be implemented within the framework of the NSRF 2014-2020.

The new programme "Recycle - Change water heater" subsidizes households for the replacement of energy-intensive electric water heaters, with new modern technology solar water heaters, while recycling the old water heaters that are replaced.

The aim of the action is to save energy in the domestic building sector, reduce pollutant emissions, achieve a cleaner environment, and reduce energy costs for the Greek family.

Content of measure

The Ministerial Decision No. 49768/740 for the replacement of energy-intensive electric water heaters with new solar water heaters, provides for the following:

Beneficiaries of the programme are domestic consumers who have an electric water heater installed in their, which they wish to replace.

Beneficiaries must live permanently in Greece, and have submitted a tax declaration for the year 2021.

Eligible for replacement are electric water heaters with a capacity of ≥ 40 liters. For each new solar water heater subsidized, the old one will have to be recycled through specific processes. The subsidy concerns the cost of purchasing a new solar water heater at a rate of 50% to 60% and between €510 and €904, depending on the Boiler of the specific solar water heater and the income of the beneficiary.

Optionally, the subsidy also concerns the costs of work to replace the old electric water heater with the new solar one, at a rate of 50% to 60% and up to a maximum allowed subsidy amount, depending on the income of the beneficiary.

The Beneficiaries must submit an online application from 11 May 2023 until 26 June 2023. The total cost of the programme will cover up to €100 million.

Use of measure

More than 320,000 applications have reportedly been submitted until 20 June 2023.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Applies to all citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

There is no involvement of social partners.

Views and reactions

There are no social partner's reactions to the measure.

Sources

• 08 May 2023: Ανακυκλώνω - Αλλάζω θερμοσίφων (www.espa.gr)
• 20 June 2023: Επιδότηση ηλιακού θερμοσίφωνα: Χαμός με τις αιτήσεις (www.dikaiologitika.gr)