A new measure will be funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and managed by the Banco Português de Fomento (BPF), with technical support from the Climate Agency (APC) as announced in a joint statement by the ministries of Finance, Economy and Territorial Cohesion, and Environment and Energy.
This mechanism covers the entire national territory, including mainland Portugal, the Azores, and Madeira, offering repayable loans for projects such as thermal insulation, heat pump installation, window replacement, shading systems, bioclimatic solutions (such as green roofs), renewable climate control systems, energy production for self-consumption, mechanical ventilation, water efficiency measures, and energy audits and certification.
Eligible applicants include individuals, tenants with landlord approval, municipalities, municipal housing companies, cooperatives, IPSS (Private Institutions of Social Solidarity), resident associations, and other entities involved in housing or social activities.
According to the government, “families in the 1st and 4th income brackets do not need to present an energy certificate prior to application.”
The Climate Agency and the Banco Português de Fomento are tasked with defining the rules for operationalizing the tool, ensuring governance, communication, monitoring, reporting, and coordination with other national and European support lines.
Access to the credit line will be available through participating financial institutions, under conditions to be established by the Banco Português de Fomento.
Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Minister of State and Finance, stated that this initiative is “another example of the role of the Banco de Fomento in boosting and modernizing the national economy, at the level of both businesses and families.”
Castro Almeida, Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, emphasized that “this new line puts European funds at the service of the welfare of families and those most in need,” highlighting that the measure contributes to the energy transition and “more sustainable, lower-cost housing.”
Maria da Graça Carvalho, the Minister of Environment and Energy, remarked that “Portugal has made significant strides in combating energy poverty, now recognized by the European Commission,” adding that “with this new financial mechanism, we take a decisive step to enable more families to reduce consumption, lower energy bills, and live in more comfortable homes.”
The design of the instrument was based on a study by the National Observatory of Energy Poverty (ONPE-PT), released in May, which characterized the situation of vulnerable families and allowed the adjustment of intervention types to the real needs of the territory.
