The Official Gazette of Castilla y León (Bocyl) publishes today the extract of the call for aid, with which the Board intends to contribute to the transition towards a low-carbon economy, in all productive and social sectors, within the framework of the Energy Efficiency Strategy 2016-2020, which has been subject to citizen participation in Open Government.
These grants are aimed at promoting various improvements in the management and energy performance of buildings. The aim is to promote a sustainable model, which also allows communities of neighbours to reduce energy expenditure, contributing to decarbonisation and long-term economic savings.
Financing Improvements: Thermal, Lighting and More Installations
According to the Castilian-Leonese Government, thanks to these incentives, improvements in thermal and lighting installations can be financed, provided that a saving of at least 20% in energy consumption is achieved. This includes adapting heating, cooling or hot water systems to more efficient technologies. In addition, interventions in elevators or escalators will be considered, which demonstrate a 30% reduction in consumption. In this sense, these modifications not only optimize the general system of the buildings, but also promote the use of renewable energies through biomass, geothermal energy or photovoltaics.
Here the PREE Program plays a key role, as it allows for the improvement of energy structures and significant savings in communities. It has been established that the aid can cover both comprehensive and partial rehabilitation projects. It is important to note that the requirements to access this aid are clearly defined, such as proving a substantial reduction in the total consumption of non-renewable primary energy.
To ensure an effective process, actions must be included under the following axes of improvement:
- Optimization of the thermal envelope: Improvement of facades, roofs and other elements to reduce energy losses.
- Heat and cold production systems: Replacing old systems with more efficient ones such as biomass boilers or heat pumps.
- Energy generation and storage: Integration of technologies such as solar photovoltaic or thermal for self-consumption, and possible storage.
Priority for Projects in Rural Areas and Mining Municipalities
The selection criteria will prioritize initiatives developed in areas with demographic challenges, especially favoring rural areas and towns with a lower population density. This is intended to revitalize disadvantaged regions, promoting their revitalization through energy reforms. Special attention will also be paid to projects promoted by the 81 localities included in the Economic Revitalization Plan of the Mining Municipalities.
The role of subsidies also focuses on job creation and social inclusion. Therefore, projects that favour the hiring of people with disabilities and promote equal employment opportunities will be encouraged.
A relevant point is that the Interventions may have begun in 2014 and provided that they have not been finalized at the time of filing the application. The deadline for implementing the reforms will end on October 15, 2024.
Olot (Girona) and the Pioneering Trigenerational Energy Network
Fortunately, administrations are beginning to realise the importance of savings and development in the energy sector. A notable example is the municipality of Olot, in Girona. Here the City Council has been a pioneer in creating the first renewable trigeneration network in the country, inaugurated by the then president of the Generalitat, Carles Puigdemont. This project combines three renewable energy sources: geothermal, solar photovoltaic and biomass.
In addition to providing cooling, heat and electricity, the infrastructure integrates seamlessly into the urban environment. Current beneficiaries include several public and residential facilities, such as the old Hospital Sant Jaume, the Regional Museum of La Garrotxa and the Municipal Market, among others. The infrastructure has a length of 1.800 meters, generating a significant improvement in air conditioning of up to Sqm 40.000, which results in a reduction in emissions of up to 750 tons of CO2 annually.
The success of the project lies not only in the choice of sustainable technologies, but also in the region's strong commitment to the environment and its vast forest mass, which is adequately used to supply the demand for biomass.
Opportunities of the Recovery Plan and Subsidies at the Spanish Level
In addition to the specific aid from Castilla y León, in Spain, the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, funded by the Next Generation Funds, provides additional resources for the renovation of homes and buildings throughout the country.
Among the featured programs is the PREE 5000 Program, which seeks to encourage the energy rehabilitation of buildings located in rural areas with less than 20.000 inhabitants. This program can subsidize energy efficiency projects in neighborhood communities, covering up to 80% of the total cost of the performances.
The types of interventions eligible for funding range from the rehabilitation of façades, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, to the installation of charging points for electric vehicles or the integration of renewable energies. All these efforts are aligned with the European objectives of energy transition and self-sufficiency.
Energy reforms in older buildings, specifically in rural areas, not only represent an opportunity for long-term savings, but also a revaluation of the properties, which will increase their value in the real estate market.
For those interested in opting for these aids, it is essential to have authorized installers registered in the corresponding registers, as well as submitting the application electronically through the platform enabled by the Junta de Castilla y León. This ensures that the process is agile and transparent.
Ultimately, it is crucial to recognise that subsidies to neighbourhood communities are part of a broader policy. These types of initiatives not only reduce inequalities between rural and urban localities, but also increase the resilience of buildings to future energy increases, making them more sustainable and energy-independent.