New grant accelerates climate-neutral economy at home

This year entrepreneurs can apply for a new subsidy for investments in production lines for producing (essential parts of) electrolyzers, batteries and solar panels. These are now often imported, which is inefficient. A strong manufacturing industry for producing these parts domestically is important to make the Netherlands climate neutral and less dependent. Companies can contribute ideas about the new investment subsidy through a consultation.

Lack of investment

The transition to a climate-neutral economy requires production, storage and use of renewable (sustainable) energy sources. This will require solar panels for solar energy, batteries for storage and electrolysis plants for hydrogen production.

In these 3 sectors, investment in the Netherlands lags behind that needed to produce those components. Final financing decisions are postponed because of, for example, funding shortages and too high investment risks compared to other countries. The new Investment Subsidy Manufacturing Climate Neutral Economy (IMKE) therefore supports companies in the Dutch manufacturing industry in those 3 sectors.

More demand for sustainable generation

The demand for products that enable renewable generation, conversion or storage will increase in the future. The Netherlands has the ambition to increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix. At the same time, other countries, such as Germany and France and countries outside the European Union, are developing these new products. As global demand for the components needed to produce solar, hydrogen and batteries increases, those products are likely to become more expensive and scarce. This causes a delay in achieving a climate-neutral economy.

Investment of strategic importance

If the Netherlands does not take on the production of these components, strategic dependence on other countries increases. Setting up its own production can reduce that dependence.

The Investment Subsidy Manufacturing Climate Neutral Economy (IMKE) aims to support companies with investments needed for the production of (essential parts of) electrolyzers, batteries and solar panels.