On 6 February 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft Regulation* elaborated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development on the provision of support to public service providers in district heating to reduce the negative impact of air pollution by improving the operation of combustion plants in use, introducing technical solutions that reduce dust (particulate matter) emissions into the air.
The total available funding for the measure is €5.64 million, including €2.82 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and an aid intensity of up to 50% of the total eligible project costs.
The funding is open to public service providers in district heating in national towns or counties with combustion plants of medium capacity (1 - 50 MW), which do not use fossil fuels and will use low-value biomass fuels as fuel during the post-project monitoring period. The support provided by the measure will help public service district heating providers to adapt to the new requirements for the reduction of dust (particulate matter) emissions from 1 January 2025.
The measure supports the establishment and equipping of combustion plants with technological solutions for the treatment of dust (particulate matter) emissions, as well as the renovation or retrofitting of existing plants for the treatment of dust (particulate matter) emissions.
As a result of the measure, at least 76 552 inhabitants are expected to benefit from air quality measures and annual savings in particulate matter emissions.
Project selection will be organized in the form of an open competition. The Central Financial and Contracts Agency, as the Cooperation Authority for the European Union Funds, will launch the call for proposals in March this year. Please keep up to date with the latest information on project selection on the website of the Central Financial and Contracts Agency: https://www.cfla.gov.lv/lv/2021-2027-projektu-atlases.