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Apply for a loan with a repayment subsidy for energy optimisation of plants and processes

If you invest in energy optimisation of plants and processes, you can apply for a loan with a repayment subsidy under certain conditions.

Forms

Responsible for you

KfW Bankengruppe

Street address

Palmengartenstraße 5 - 9
60325 Frankfurt am Main

Postal address

Palmengartenstraße 5 - 9

60325 Frankfurt am Main

Email

info@kfw.de

Website

www.kfw.de

Mehr zur Behörde

Procedure details

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) supports measures to increase energy efficiency in companies.
The funding is open to all technologies; funding is provided in particular for:

  • Process and procedure conversions to efficient technologies and energy optimisation of production processes,
  • waste heat utilisation,
  • measures on systems for heat supply, cooling and ventilation, if these are used directly for production processes,
  • energy-efficient provision of process heating or cooling,
  • avoidance of energy losses in the production process.

You will not receive any subsidies

  • for measures prescribed by law,
  • if you have already started with the measure before you submitted the application.

If you want to optimise plants and processes in terms of energy, then you can get a loan of up to EUR 25 million.

The amount of the subsidy for the repayment of the loan depends on the size of your company and the energy saved:

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (up to 249 employees and annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million or balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million):
    • up to 40 percent of the eligible costs,
    • up to EUR 700 for each tonne of carbon dioxide saved per year.
  • large companies (250 and more employees and annual turnover more than EUR 50 million or balance sheet total higher than EUR 43 million):
    • up to 30 percent of eligible costs,
    • maximum of EUR 500 for each tonne of carbon dioxide saved annually.

Eligible costs are:

  • All costs for the implementation of the measure,
  • ancillary costs for planning and installation,
  • costs for the preparation of an energy saving concept and the monitoring of the implementation by an external energy consultant.

You can receive a maximum of EUR 10 million in repayment subsidies.
You will only receive the repayment subsidy once you have completed your measure. To do this, you must prove

  • that you have spent the money from the loan on the measure,
  • that the measure technically fulfils its purpose.

You must keep all invoices and receipts related to the eligible costs.

The applications for the subsidy are processed by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).
You have no claim to the approval of the funding.

Reference to further funding opportunities of the programme:
You can also apply for a direct grant from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) via the funding programme "Bundesförderung für Energieeffizienz in der Wirtschaft" (Federal funding for energy efficiency in the economy) (apply for a grant for energy optimisation of systems and processes).



Applications may be submitted by

  • domestic and foreign commercial enterprises that are majority privately owned
  • municipal enterprises
  • freelance professionals
  • contractors who implement energy efficiency measures

Further requirements:

  • You must be creditworthy
  • Your company must have its registered office or a branch in Germany
  • The energy-saving concept must be prepared by an energy consultant who has been approved by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) for the funding programme "Federal funding for energy consulting in small and medium-sized businesses".
  • the costs of your measure may only be refinanced by the saved energy costs after at least two years without funding
  • the subsidised measure must be implemented in Germany and operated for at least three years

Note:
If your company has an energy or environmental management system certified according to DIN EN ISO 50001 or EMAS, you can also prepare the savings concept yourself.

  • Required Documents

    When submitting your application, you must submit:

    • Savings concept
    • for contracting projects: Confirmation of the contracting project
    • for SME subsidies: Self-declaration of compliance with the SME definition
    • for "de minimis" subsidies: "de minimis" declaration

    When you have completed your measure, you must submit the following documents:

    • Confirmation after implementation of the investment measure

You must submit the application for funding in writing to the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

  • You first need a financing partner, through whom you then submit your application to KfW. A financing partner can be a bank, building society or financial intermediary.
  • Select your financing partner and make an appointment for a consultation. If you are looking for a financing partner, you can use the online consultation request on the KfW website.
  • At the consultation appointment, your financing partner will check whether your planned measure meets all the requirements and whether you are creditworthy.
  • You complete the loan application together with your financing partner. Your financing partner will inform you which other forms and documents you need for your application.
  • Your financing partner submits the completed loan application to KfW. KfW will review your application and decide on the funding.
  • You will then receive notification from your financing partner as to whether your loan with repayment subsidy will be approved.
  • Conclude the loan agreement with your financing partner and start the measure. KfW will pay you the loan amount in full.
  • When you have completed the measure, you must provide proof to your financing partner,
    • that you have spent the money from the loan on the measure and
    • that the measure technically fulfils its purpose.
  • You submit this evidence to your financing partner.
  • Your financing partner checks and confirms your evidence and forwards it to KfW.
  • If KfW has also checked the evidence, you will receive the repayment grant as a credit.

  • none

  • Application:
    • until 31.12.2022
    • before the start of the measure
  • Call deadline for the loan: within 12 months of the loan commitment, in one sum or in instalments.
  • Proof of use of funds: within 12 months after full disbursement of the loan

  • Processing of the application: 1 to 3 months

Notice:
You can only start the measure once you have received a decision on the approval.
If you still want to start earlier, you can apply for an early start of the measure. However, you must wait to see whether this application is approved before you start your measure.

Status: 09.03.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie
Source: Federal Portal