Government subsidies are again encouraging Poles to invest in their own energy sources. Particularly popular is the Clean Air program, which provides co-funding for the replacement of heat sources as well as building thermal modernization. Beneficiaries can obtain up to PLN 135,000. Paweł Bednarek, President of Columbus Elite, says “Those who had doubts about securing funding sources have confidently been submitting applications since April. Now is an excellent time to make a decision.”
The national Clean Air program enables Poles to receive subsidies for the replacement of old furnaces and the insulation of single-family homes. The current edition of the program allows for up to PLN 135,000 in non-repayable grants for thermal modernization and a new heat source. The announcement by the Ministry of Climate and Environment in April 2024 of new funding sources from the European Union Funds for Infrastructure, Climate, Environment (FEnIKS – PLN 6.4 billion) ensures the financial security of the Clean Air program for 2024-2029. This also gives a chance to over 145,000 households for subsidies to replace approx. 111,000 heat sources and modernize approx.100,000 buildings.
“Now is the right time to make a decision,” says Paweł Bednarek of Newseria Biznes. “The interest in the program is very large, especially in recent weeks, and July was a record month in this respect. In July alone our company signed 1468 new agreements with customers, including those for the Clean Air program. This is the highest result this year. We estimate that the total value of this contracting for July exceeds PLN 120 million. Of course, this is influenced by the attractiveness of the subsidy itself, but also our knowledge and competence, the scaling of our sales teams, our ability to reach customers and the work system that we developed at Columbus Elite over the past five years.”
According to NFOŚiGW data, the Clean Air initiative continues to be very popular. Over 930,100 applications have been submitted and 754,800 contracts have been signed with beneficiaries since the program began until the beginning of August.
“Subsidies are targeted at the poorest, supporting households that require thermal modernization services, efficiency enhancement,” says the president of Columbus Elite. “The co-financing gives up to 80 or 100 percent of the net amount of the investment, which always pleasantly surprises customers and motivates them to use the subsidy.”
In Poland, there are approximately 14.2 million buildings, of which nearly 40% (or 5.6 million) are single-family residential buildings. Many of these – particularly those put into use decades ago for which the primary heat source remains solid fuel boilers – require urgent thermal modernization due to their high energy demand and poor thermal insulation. This modernization will not only reduce the costs of building operation, but will also limit low emissions and smog, and improve the health of residents.
A subsidy from the Clean Air program includes funds that households can allocate for the replacement of an inefficient heat source with a new, more efficient and ecological one, the modernization of a heating installation, insulation of the building, replacement of windows and doors, purchase of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery or the installation of a photovoltaic system.
“The Clean Air program is demanding. It is no longer a stage where installing photovoltaics or a heat pump was enough. Competence and a large group of experts are required. Today at Columbus Elite we have 500 people on board. When we started operations, the entire market was based mainly on PV installations. We quickly realized that some changes and product multiplicity would occur,” continues Bednarek. “We have quality equipment, but also capital, which makes it easier for us because the specifics of the Clean Air program require capital engagement from companies. At the same time, our sales competencies allow us to dynamically develop a distribution network and reach a large number of potential customers in a short time. We are also developing modern technologies, such as energy storage and HEMS products, which manage energy in households. These services also represent a barrier to entry into the business; they require appropriate facilities and often proprietary technological solutions.”
The president of Columbus Elite estimates that the company’s energy advisors reach over a million potential customers, who they educate about the energy transition.
“We also educate the market, showing that now is the right time to make a decision, as the pool of funds available as a subsidy will diminish, and some people may simply not manage to take advantage of this subsidy,” says the expert.
