The European Commission has published guidance documents to help EU countries transpose the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive into their national law.

The latest guidance (C/2024/7161) clarifies the requirement of Article 17 (15) to suspend, from 1 January 2025 at the latest, any financial incentives for the installation of new self-contained boilers fired by fuels fossils.

“The document clarifies in particular the notions of ‘autonomous boiler powered by fossil fuels’ and ‘hybrid heating system’, as well as ‘installation’ and ‘financial incentives'”, indicates the Commission in a press release.

For example, no subsidies, preferential loans or financial incentives, such as reduced tax rates, can be offered for the acquisition, assembly and operation of new autonomous boilers fueled by natural gas, fuel oil or coal, whether the installation is or not. is part of a renovation initiative. No public authority at any level – national, regional or local – shall provide financial assistance or support using public funds to purchasers, installers or other parties for the installation of these boilers.

The guidance clarifies what types of incentives can still be granted. For example, hybrid heating systems combining a boiler and a renewable energy heat generator may be eligible for incentives if the renewable energy component is significant, the Commission said.

“In addition, any incentives already approved under EU funds, financing of additional costs related to the transition to the use of renewable gases in a boiler, support for maintenance, repair or decommissioning fossil fuel boilers or income support for fossil fuel heating. fuels can be maintained. Likewise, incentives already granted at national, regional and/or local level and communicated to an individual beneficiary can still be paid,” the Commission said.

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) sets out measures to enable the EU to achieve a fully decarbonized building stock by 2050. The directive entered into force on 28 May 2028 and the transposition deadline has was set for May 29, 2026. for most of the provisions.

“However, Article 17(15) has an earlier transposition deadline of 1 January 2025,” the Commission said as it works on several guidance documents on other elements of the updated EPBD, with a view to adopting them next year.

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