Special aids to help promote a green economy (L'essentiel)

Luxembourg Minister for Sustainable Development, Marco Schank, recently presented a series of measures adopted by the government that will enter into force as of January 1, 2013 and whereby all financial allocations for the use of renewable energy sources by private citizens of the Grand Duchy wi

ll be disciplined. These provisions foresee a deduction in the subsidies that are allocated to those that opt for constructing a new house.

The financial aids for the use of photovoltaic solar energy will be decreased from 30% to 20% of the current costs for the installation of this technology while solar thermalenergy will be co-financed by the government up to a maximum of 2’500 € or about 50% of the investment borne by the applicant. Such funds will be increased for heat pumps and wood-fired boilers. Bonuses are allocated only provided that certain conditions are fulfilled, for instance an allowance of 20% will be given to those that will be completely replacing their equipments with a maximum of 40’000 €. 

Less money for photovoltaic solar energy

As for existing buildings, they will have to comply with the standards set for the Category A by 2017. The government will hence grant funds whose amount will be gradually decreasing up to late 2016. Subsidies for houses assigned to category B will stop by the end of 2013. This means that the government intends to help and support only those premises that contributed to a real “green economy”.

The plan adopted by the government foresees also the promotion of a reduction in energy consumption so that performance standards and the corresponding subsidies will be introduced.

For example, the current fund of 20 € per sq. m. allocated for an exterior wall of class B will be increased to 36 € if this will be modified to meet the standards set for class A.