Increased support for energy-efficiency improvements, a shorter required period of property ownership and simplified documentation are among the changes taking effect in Poland’s Clean Air programme on 20 July 2026.
The measures are intended to make it easier for beneficiaries to obtain funding for replacing inefficient heating systems. At the same time, the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, or NFOŚiGW, has announced further changes to the programme, including a proposed voucher to cover the cost of an energy audit.
“The changes to the Clean Air programme are intended to increase the number of applications while maintaining the safety of both beneficiaries and contractors. We want the programme to develop as effectively as possible, but we also want to ensure that all participants in the system are properly protected,” Dorota Zawadzka-Stępniak, President of NFOŚiGW, told the Newseria news agency.
“We introduced the reformed programme on 31 March 2025 and announced at the time that it would continue to evolve. We said there would be further changes and that we would listen to contractors, beneficiaries, local authorities and non-governmental organisations. That is why we decided to introduce this smaller reform,” said Robert Gajda, Deputy President of NFOŚiGW.
“We now want to make it easier for beneficiaries to enter the programme because we have received reports of several problems.”
Property ownership requirements eased
One of the most important changes is the expansion of exemptions from the rule requiring applicants to have owned a property for at least three years before applying for funding.
The programme will now also be available to people who acquired a property through adverse possession, as well as owners or co-owners who have held the property for at least one year and acquired at least a 50% share through a purchase or donation from their parents or grandparents.
This will allow support to reach new owners of older homes requiring energy-efficiency improvements more quickly.
Beneficiaries using the pre-financing option will also have more time to complete work covered by an advance payment.
“We have standardised the period allowed for completing an investment under the pre-financing mechanism. Projects financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment had a 180-day period, while those financed through the Modernisation Fund had only 120 days. We have now extended the latter to 180 days as well,” Gajda explained.
“This means that when work is affected by factors such as weather conditions, as has happened this year, beneficiaries will have 180 rather than 120 days to complete their investment.”
Subsidies for selected renovation work rise by 10%
Another change taking effect on 20 July is a 10% increase in funding for selected energy-efficiency improvements.
The higher subsidies will apply to insulation for walls and other structural elements, as well as the replacement of windows, external doors and garage doors.
The increase is intended to reflect the recent rise in renovation and construction costs. However, it does not change the maximum funding amounts available under the programme’s individual support levels.
“Another important change is the possibility for beneficiaries or their authorised representatives to enter applications directly into the funding application generator,” Gajda said.
“Most importantly, the application process will be completed by an operator who checks whether the application meets the funding requirements. This will allow applications to be processed more quickly and reduce unnecessary paperwork.
“Anyone will be able to submit an application from home. When an application is incomplete, the operator will inform the applicant which information or documents must be added.”
Documents confirming the permanent disconnection of an old heating system and the adaptation of chimney ducts will no longer have to be issued exclusively by certified master chimney sweeps. They may also be prepared by people holding the appropriate construction qualifications.
The change is intended to simplify and accelerate the settlement of completed investments.
Only heat pumps to receive support from 2027
Changes have also been introduced concerning the types of heating equipment eligible for support.
Among electrical heating systems, only heat pumps will continue to qualify for funding after 2026.
“Until the end of this year, it will still be possible to finance other electrical heating appliances alongside heat pumps. From 1 January 2027, only electrically powered heat pumps will remain eligible. Other electrical heating systems will no longer receive support,” Gajda said.
“We are providing a transition period of almost six months so that beneficiaries can consider choosing another heating system. We are withdrawing support for electric boilers, but they represented only 0.4% of installations financed by the programme, so this concerns a very small group.
“We are focusing on technologies that have been proven and deliver the greatest environmental efficiency.”
Previous reform reduced abuse but also lowered application numbers
The programme’s previous major reform took effect on 31 March 2025.
Eligibility for the highest level of funding was linked to both household income and the energy performance of the building. A nationwide operator system was also introduced to provide free assistance to beneficiaries applying for the highest and increased levels of support.
Programme operators help lower-income households free of charge throughout the funding process, including project implementation and final settlement.
According to Gajda, the reform significantly reduced abuse and improved the quality of subsidised projects, but it also contributed to a decline in the number of applications.
The requirement to conduct an energy audit before beginning an investment was also introduced at that time.
“An energy audit ensures that an investment is carried out in accordance with good construction practice, rather than according to whatever equipment or materials a contractor happens to have available,” the NFOŚiGW deputy president said.
Energy audit voucher planned for 2026
“In the next stage, we want to consider further changes, including the introduction of an audit voucher that would finance an energy audit for potential beneficiaries of the Clean Air programme,” Zawadzka-Stępniak said.
“We want to provide the funding for the audit in advance, before the potential beneficiary formally enters the programme.
“We already have a draft of the scheme, but we want to develop it together with local authorities, which will be our partners in the project. We need a little more time for dialogue and to work out the best solutions.
“We want the audit voucher to be introduced this year, as soon as we have agreed on the concept with local authorities.”
At present, beneficiaries can receive funding covering up to 100% of the net cost of an energy audit, but no more than PLN 1,200.
To qualify, the audit summary must be prepared using the template required under the programme. The work included in the selected audit scenario must also be completed no later than the final date of the project covered by the funding application.
Authorities consider support for beneficiaries’ own contribution
Fund representatives have announced further work on the programme, including an analysis of beneficiaries’ required financial contribution.
“Even with the maximum subsidy of PLN 170,000, VAT may amount to approximately PLN 12,000. We know that in many cases this is an unaffordable amount for beneficiaries,” Gajda said.
“We are trying to identify a source of financing that could help them cover the VAT. We are also counting on regional authorities to support such residents when introducing anti-smog resolutions.”
More than 603,000 old boilers replaced
Since the Clean Air programme was launched in 2018, more than 603,000 obsolete and highly polluting heating systems, commonly known in Poland as kopciuchy, have been replaced. Their continued use is considered one of the main causes of smog in the country.
A total of 971,000 funding agreements have been concluded. More than 645,000 projects have been completed, with payments totalling nearly PLN 22 billion.
Under the current version of the programme, in force since 31 March 2025, approximately 70,000 applications have been submitted and 53,000 agreements worth PLN 3.3 billion have been signed.
The current programme has a budget of PLN 10 billion and is financed through the Modernisation Fund.
