To make this measure more effective and tailored to the specific context of your company, we recommend that you first perform an overall analysis of your energy situation.
Heat recovery from the condensers of the refrigeration units to preheat domestic hot water (DHW)
A refrigeration cycle works by capturing heat from the evaporator inside the cold rooms, to subsequently discharge it towards the condenser outside the building. This project aims to recover this heat to preheat domestic hot water (DHW) which is a must in all butcher shops. To do this, a heat exchanger is installed between the compressor and the condenser of the refrigeration unit.
This measure could reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by 10 to 30%, thereby significantly reducing or even eliminating energy demand for domestic hot water (DHW) production. However, its implementation is complex and will require a temporary production shutdown to during the installation.
In practice, recovery can be implemented in three different ways:
- External exchanger: an exchanger is connected on one side to the compressor outlet and on the other to the hot water tank, allowing for partial heat recovery.
- Internal exchanger: a “desuperheater” exchanger through which the refrigerant flows is integrated at the bottom of the hot water tank upstream of the condenser.
- Condensation water collector: all of the refrigerant is condensed inside the hot water tank, allowing for total heat recovery.
Energy and environmental impact
The two joint positive effects are:
- Energy gain: by recovering the energy discharged outside (waste heat), the energy demand for the production of DHW can be reduced significantly.
- Environmental gain: using this waste heat for DHW production reduces the environmental impact, with a particularly positive effect on carbon emissions if the DHW was initially produced by burning fossil fuels.
State subsidy application
State subsidies
Please note: any application for government or non-government subsidies must comply with the “incentive effect”, subject to compliance with the subsidy conditions.
To ensure that the ‘incentive effect’ is respected, no binding commitment (signing a quotation; paying an advance) may be made BEFORE submitting the application file or receiving the agreement in principle from the State or the electricity and natural gas supplier following an application for subsidies.
Temporary environmental impact aid
Extended “SME Packages Sustainability” aid scheme, to give companies greater incentives to invest in measures that significantly improve their environmental impact. Investments under this climate protection measure amount to 70% for small enterprises, 60% for medium-sized enterprises and 50% for large enterprises, for projects costing more than €7,500, with a maximum subsidy of €100,000.
- Verification of company eligibility and costs: Ministry of the Economy (Department for Support to SMEs)
- Application deadline: 30 June 2025
- For any questions:
- Chambre des Métiers for the trades (Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts)
- Chamber of Commerce for companies in the non-craft sectors
Flat-rate subsidy of €5,000 for small and medium-sized companies for projects to reduce their environmental impact, costing between €25,000 and €6,650 excluding VAT.
- For any questions:
- Chambre des Métiers for the trades (Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts)
- Chamber of Commerce for companies in the non-craft sectors
Environmental protection scheme – Investment aid for the protection of the environment
- Verification of company eligibility and costs: General Directorate for Industry, new Technology and Research
- Support in drawing up the subsidy application file prior to submission to the Ministry of the Economy
- For any questions: Luxinnovation
- More information and recommendations for companies on investing in the environment are available in the Guide simplifié pour les entreprises (Simplified Guide for Companies)
- Support in drawing up the subsidy application file prior to submission to the Ministry of the Economy
N.B. State subsidies cannot be combined for the same project
Subsidies from electricity and natural gas suppliers
Since 2015, natural gas and electricity suppliers are required to make energy savings for consumers under the obligation scheme. Since then, energy suppliers have been offering support and advice, as well as subsidy programmes for consumers to implement energy efficiency measures.
The following suppliers offer this service for companies:
N.B. Supplier subsidies can be combined with any state subsidies for the same project.