Energy Policy, Vol.90, 121-130, 2016
Green Investment Scheme: Experience and results in the Czech Republic
The key goal of this study was to analyse application of the Green Investment Scheme in the Czech Republic through the Green Savings Programme finalising in 2015. The programme was evaluated in terms of aspects of both reduction effectiveness and economic aspects of the basic subsidy categories: (a) Insulation; (b) Low-Energy Houses; (c) Biomass Boilers; (d) Solar Thermal Systems and (e) Heat Pumps. The essential results of the programme were also covered, including the number of projects supported, the total volume of emission reduction and the volume of financial funding. The basic evaluation was based on selected indicators, including abatement costs, greening ratio, payback period and subsidy share of investment costs. The primary data for calculating originated from the database of the Information System of the Green Savings Programme by the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic. The calculated value of abatement cost was between 12 (heat pumps and biomass boilers) and 272 (sic) t CO2-1(low-energy houses). The shortest payback time-periods were calculated for insulation at 11.2 and 3.8 years respectively, without and including the provided subsidy. On the contrary, there was no economic payback in the case of biomass boilers, due to transition to an economically costlier fuel. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.