Greece will provide €238 million (~$260.6 million) in subsidies to households and farmers for installing solar systems combined with a storage battery.

The program will remain open until the end of June 2024 or until the available resources are exhausted.

The maximum installed capacity eligible for subsidy is set at 10.8 kW. Subsidy for the battery will be up to a capacity of 10.8 kWh.

Households must install a solar system with a battery, while farmers can choose between the two options. The system can be placed on the roof, in auxiliary areas of the building, agricultural site, or on the ground.

The program emphasizes supporting vulnerable households, and a budget of €45 million (~$49.2 million) is explicitly dedicated to this group.

A total of €100 million (~$110 million) is dedicated to citizens with an individual annual income of up to €20,000 (~$21,200) or family income of up to €40,000 (~$43,798).

Nearly €63 million (~$69 million) is allocated solely for citizens whose individual income is more significant than €€20,000 (~$21,200) or whose family income is above €40,000 (~$43,798).

A total of €30 million (~$32.8 million) is allocated only for professional farmers and farmers with special status.

The program aims to fully cover the cost of the battery and the development and installation costs of the solar system. The battery subsidy is 100% for the first two categories, while for the third and fourth categories, it is 90%.

The subsidy for households ranges from 45% to 75%, while farmers can receive 40% to 60% for the solar system. In addition, the subsidy for the solar system with a battery can reach up to €16,000 (~$17,519) for households and €10,000 (~$10,949) for farmers.

Special bonuses of 10% are also provided for people with disabilities, spouses and dependent members of people with disabilities, and single-parent, three-child, and large-child families.

The program is part of the Greek government’s efforts to promote energy democracy, reduce citizens’ electricity bills, and limit the country’s environmental footprint. According to Kostas Skrekas, the Minister of Environment and Energy, the program is a decisive step towards achieving these goals.

The European Parliament adopted the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, mandating solar rooftop systems for all new buildings by 2028 and renovating residential buildings by 2032.

Last year, the European Commission proposed the solar rooftop initiative mandating all new public, commercial, and residential buildings to install solar in a phased manner.