Subsidy (Operational Programme Quality of Environment)

Updated: 10.01.2019

Author: Boris Valach

The Operational Programme Quality of Environment (OP KŽP) allocates investment grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for natural and legal persons, associations or non-profit organisations. Renewable energy projects are eligible under Priority Axis 4 "Energy-efficient low-carbon economy in all sectors", namely Investment Priority 4.1 "Promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable sources". About 30% (approx. € 939 million) out of approx. € 3.1 billion from the EU funds’ share in the OP KŽP were allocated to support activities under the Priority Axis 4.

Specific Target 4.1.1 "Increasing the share of RES in gross final energy consumption of the SR" is aimed at supporting the generation of heat and electricity from RES, thereby contributing to the achievement of the planned share of RES in gross final energy consumption until 2020. Eligible activities under the RES-H include the replacement of inefficient solid fuel fired boilers with heat generating plans fired by biomass as well as the construction of heat pumps, biogas, and solar thermal or geothermal plants (2.4.2.2 OP KŽP).

The deployment of renewable energy sources is also supported through further investment priorities under Priority Axis 4. 

Except of the Bratislava-Self Governing Region (BSK), OP KŽP promotes the provision for energy audits at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) authorised to do business in industrial sector and related services as well as the implementation of measures arising from energy audits (incl. renewable energy sources’ installation) in the enterprises (Investment Priority 2, Specific Target 4.2.1). 

Additionally, the use of renewable energy sources is incentivised through the Investment Priority 3 of Priority Axis 4, namely "Supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector". Apart from other supported measures, the improvement of energy performance of public buildings can be achieved also through the construction of renewable energy plants in buildings covering their energy consumption (Specific Target 4.3.1). However, the installation of renewable energy sources will be promoted only as a part of comprehensive project for improvement of the energy efficiency of public buildings (except of BSK) (2.4.4.3 OP KŽP).

Eligible technologies

Eligible technologies under Investment Priority 4.1 are biomass, biogas, aerothermal, hydrothermal, solar thermal or geothermal plants (2.4.2.2 OP KŽP).

Aerothermal energy

Eligible

Hydrothermal energy

Eligible

Biogas

Eligible

Biomass

Eligible is the construction of biomass boilers which will replace an existing gas fired boiler with a thermal capacity of no more than 20 MW (2.4.2.2 Letter a OP KŽP).

Geothermal energy

Eligible

Solar thermal energy

Eligible.

Amount

The amount of the subsidy will be determined in the individual call for applications.

Addressees

Eligible party: The persons eligible for subsidies are natural or legal persons authorised to conduct business, associations, local government bodies or non-profit organisations. Projects must be implemented outside the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (BSK). However, also owners of family houses, associations of apartment and non-residential premises/apartment houses administrators, i.e. households from the BSK could apply for installations of ‘small sources’, esp. solar and aerothermal energy will be incentivised (in case of RES-H production a small source is defined as an installation that covers the energy consumption of building) (2.4.2.2 OP KŽP). Under the Investment Priority 3 of Priority Axis 4, also the installation of renewable energy sources in public buildings located outside the BSK is subsidised.

Obligated party: The party obligated is the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, resp. the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) as a contributory organisation of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic as a beneficiary within a national project through which the aid will be granted to other entities as users.

Procedure

Process flow

  • Application. Interested parties shall apply for a subsidy under the relevant call for applications.
  • Selection procedure. The call for applications shall specify the criteria for selection and the method of assessment.
  • Award. TThe institution in charge of the Operational Programme Quality of Environment, i.e. the Ministry of Environment, resp. the SIEA decides whether a subsidy is granted. The binding conditions for the subsidy granted are communicated by notice (2.4.2.3 OP KŽP).

Competent authority

Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, resp. the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA) as a contributory organisation of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic as a beneficiary within a national project through which the aid will be granted to other entities as users.

Distribution of costs

State

15% of the total amount of subsidies are funded by the state.

European Union

85% of the total amount of subsidies are funded by the ERDF.

Distribution mechanism

ERDF – Ministry of Environment. The subsidies awarded under the Operational Programme Quality of Environment is funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), and by national public funds of 15 % of the total amount of subsidies granted. These funds are managed by the Ministry of Environment.

Slovakia

Further information

  • Ministerstvo životného prostredia Slovenskej republiky (MŽP SR) – Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic
  • Stanislav Jurikovič
  • +421 259 561 111
  • MŽP website
  • info(at)enviro.gov.sk

Basic information on legal sources