Olomouc Region in Czechia has allocated CZK 827 million to boiler grant applicants

Nearly CZK 827 million has so far been distributed among applicants for grants to replace old boilers with new, environmentally friendly heat sources in the Olomouc Region. Since 2016, there have been four rounds of these grants in the region. Another round is being prepared for this year, and will target low-income households. This time, financial support will be available for heat pumps and biomass boilers. „Grants for biomass boilers can amount to as much as CZK 130,000, and those for heat pumps can reach CZK 180,000,“ regional councillor Petr Lysek (Pirates and STAN) told the Czech News Agency (ČTK) today.

The most recent round of grants opened last year, when around 1,400 applicants applied and the regional authority distributed CZK 200 million among them. In the previous three rounds, 5,686 applicants received grants to replace their boilers. „Boiler grants have three benefits. They help people save on their energy bills, contribute to a cleaner environment and support companies in the Olomouc Region that install modern boilers,“ Lysek said.

In last year’s round of grants, people in the Olomouc Region opted mainly to install biomass boilers in their homes. By contrast, amid sharply rising fossil fuel prices, modern gas boilers attracted the least interest.

Demand for grants in the region has always significantly exceeded the funds available. A ban was due to take effect across Czechia last September on heating family homes with old coal or wood boilers that do not meet at least emissions class 3. The ban was eventually postponed until September 2024. After that, people who continue to heat their homes with old boilers will face fines.