Regional Government increased PROENERGIA incentives by 48% in the first four months of 2020
The Regional Secretariat for Energy, Environment and Tourism, through the Regional Directorate for Energy, increased the financial incentives granted under PROENERGIA - a system of incentives for the production and storage of energy from renewable sources by 48% in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period in 2019. This year's investment amounts to more than 157 thousand euros, corresponding to 184 applications.
The closing figures for 2019 had already revealed an increase of 34% in the amount of incentives granted in comparison to 2018, besides evidencing a growth of 111% compared to the amount of incentives granted under PROENERGIA since the beginning of this legislative term.
It should be noted that this incentive system takes the form of a non-refundable incentive to subsidise the purchase and assembly of equipment for self-consumption. It underwent a profound change in 2019, optimising the support to be granted to Azorean citizens and maximising local production of clean energy to the detriment of the use of fossil fuels.
In addition to production systems, PROENERGIA now covers the storage of energy and, in both cases, the incentive reaches 25%, up to a maximum limit of 4,000 Euros.
The same amounts are applied in the case of heat energy production systems.
The support systems for the production of hot water are also covered by this incentive system. Under the amendment to PROENERGIA, the incentive was increased to 35%, up to a maximum limit of 4,000 Euros.
In all cases, the minimum investment required was reduced from 1,000 to 500 Euros, increasing the range of eligible equipment in order to be aligned with market prices.
The incentive granted to projects implemented in the territories covered by UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves (Corvo, Flores, Graciosa and São Jorge) was increased by 12 percentage points with the aim of safeguarding and promoting the natural heritage of these territories.
This measure is directed to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, including individual entrepreneurs, cooperatives, condominiums, non-profit associations and Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS).
In the case of the IPSS and in the context of the recent amendment to PROENERGIA, the maximum limit of the incentive increased from 4,000 to 20,000 Euros.
In the current scenario, the growth already registered this year is particularly relevant in view of the measures adopted to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region, namely home confinement, teleworking and online classes, thus resulting in greater concern among households regarding their energy consumption. With the investment in the production of energy for self-consumption, they can achieve significant savings.