Public authorities can apply within a call for projects worth 250 million EUR in order to obtain financing for investments in equipment and machinery intended to achieve energy independence, the Ministry of European Investment and Projects (MIPE) informed in a press release sent to Agerpres on Tuesday.

In total, local authorities will have 500 million EUR at their disposal to support investments in energy production capacities from renewable sources, both for own consumption and for sale, the relevant Ministry said.

„Taking into account the effects of the crisis in Ukraine, which led to an average increase in the price of construction materials by over 60pct, while the price of public utilities (energy, natural gas, fuel) increased by an average of over 40pct, the Ministry of European Funds, through the Management Authority for the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme, is implementing this period measures totaling 1 billion EUR to support the business environment and local authorities. 500 million EUR are earmarked for the energy efficiency of the local public authorities, which are forced to bear, from the local budgets, the necessary funds for the operating expenses of the public services in education and health (…) The Ministry of European Investments and Projects, through the Management Authority for the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme, is launching, on 8 November 2022, 10:00hrs., the call for projects dedicated to local public administration authorities – Measures to support investments in energy production capacities from renewable sources for own consumption at the level of local public authorities,” the press release states.

According to the quoted source, the call applies to projects that propose, as actions, investments in equipment, machines, specific equipment necessary to obtain energy from renewable sources (with the exception of biomass), intended for own consumption. The category of renewable energy sources includes the use of the following sources: wind, solar, aerothermal, geothermal, hydrothermal and ocean energy, hydraulic energy, waste fermentation gas, also known as landfill gas, and sludge fermentation gas from sewage treatment plants of waste water and biogas.

The MIPE mentions that, separately, this period, it has open calls for projects for the energy efficiency of the business environment worth 500 million EUR.

Agerpres