Households will also be able to receive state support for installing environmentally friendly energy production equipment (solar panels, heat pumps, pellet boilers, etc.) in their homes after December 31, 2024. On Tuesday, December 10, the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) approved amendments to CM regulations developed by the Ministry of Climate and Energy (MCE), extending the support program until December 31, 2029. The total support funding has been increased by €40 million.

Since the launch of the support program (2.8 years ago), approximately 13,000 renewable energy equipment units have been purchased and installed in Latvia with state support, amounting to a total support sum of €42 million.

"Households across Latvia are actively using the opportunity to replace, for example, coal and gas heating boilers with environmentally friendly energy production equipment—heat pumps, pellet boilers—while the greatest interest among residents remains in the purchase of solar panels. Resident activity has been high throughout the program's operation. We predict that interest in purchasing and installing environmentally friendly technologies in homes will remain strong. We offer this financial support tool to help households become more energy-independent and the equipment they use more energy-efficient," said Kaspars Melnis, Minister of Climate and Energy.

Thanks to the support program, it is estimated that approximately 11,000 additional projects can be implemented, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 69,000 tons of CO2. Assuming an emissions quota price of €67, this results in a cost saving of €4.6 million.

A new feature of the support program is the opportunity for residents to receive support for purchasing energy storage devices (batteries), which previously could only be purchased within the program in conjunction with solar panels. For instance, if a resident has already installed solar panels with state support (using the Emission Quota Auctioning Instrument – EKII) and wishes to additionally purchase a battery with EKII support, this option is now available under the amended program.

The maximum support amount for purchasing batteries (regardless of whether they are purchased with or without a solar panel or wind generator) remains unchanged at €2,500.

Another novelty in the support program is the possibility to receive support for purchasing solar collectors for hot water production without replacing the fossil fuel heating boiler in the home.

More information about the support program – the Emission Quota Auctioning Instrument – can be found at www.ekii.lv.