Continuity in funding for investments in climate protection

Update on funding for energy and resource efficiency

The “Federal Subsidy for Energy and Resource Efficiency in the Economy” (EEW) was amended on February 15, 2024. The aim is to provide further incentives for companies to invest more in climate protection actions.

The EEW is a broad-based funding program and is aimed at both large and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from industry and commerce. The range of funding objects extends from smaller energy efficiency measures to large process and waste heat projects and strategic concepts for climate neutrality.

Summary of the main changes at a glance

Only SMEs are now eligible to apply for module 1
Stronger alignment of conditions and funding rates depending on the size of the company
For the eligible costs, the applicant must choose between the total costs of the new system (low funding rate) and differential costs compared to a reference system (higher funding rate)
The “transformation concept” (module 5) is now called the “transformation plan” and no longer requires the creation of a savings concept for a selected measure

In addition, various options are possible in module 4:

“Basic funding” for smaller efficiency measures on specified systems such as injection molding machines
Higher “premium funding” for projects with at least 30 percent greenhouse gas savings or at least 1,000 t CO2 equivalents
Higher funding rate, “decarbonization bonus”, for projects for electrification with renewable electricity, off-site waste heat recovery and the production and use of green hydrogen

Applications for funding can be submitted to BAFA for the grant variant and to KfW or the loan variant with repayment subsidy. Applications for transformation plans and the funding competition can be submitted to the VDI/VDE-IT project management organization.