The central government is introducing the Investment Subsidy for the Making Industry Climate Neutral Economy (IMKE). With this subsidy scheme, the cabinet stimulates investments in production lines for electrolysers, batteries and solar panels.
The subsidy is aimed at setting up production lines to produce batteries, electrolysers and solar panels. Money is also available for production lines for necessary components of these products. This can involve setting up a completely new production line, but also expanding the production capacity of an existing production line or converting an existing production line.
Anyone investing in a battery production line may also apply for a subsidy for the production or recovery of raw materials. These must be critical raw materials necessary for the production of batteries or necessary components thereof.
Electrolysers
Regarding electrolysers, the production of the following necessary components is eligible for subsidy:
- anodes
- bipolar plates
- apertures
- pressure regulators
- cathodes
- small-scale hydrogen storage
- membranes
- temperature regulators
- power electronics
- heat exchangers
- water pumping systems
- hydrogen compressors
- hydrogen detection systems
- hydrogen purification systems
- water treatment systems
Solar panels
Regarding necessary components for solar panels, these are heterojunction solar cells, perovskite foils, perovskite solar cells and tandem solar cells.
Batteries
For battery production, subsidies are available for production lines for bulk batteries, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, redox-flow batteries and solid-state batteries. In addition, the following necessary components for batteries are eligible:
- anodes
- cells
- coating materials
- electrolyte materials
- cathodes
- packs
- stacks
A total of 148 million euros is available. 20 million euro is aimed at production lines for batteries, while 100 million euro is available for the production of electrolysers. A total of 28 million euros is set aside for parties wishing to set up a production line for solar panels.
Applications for the grant can be submitted between 1 October 2024 and Friday 31 January 2025. An exception is made for grants for production lines for solar panels; this grant will be available from 2 December 2024. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is organising an online information session on 13 August about the new scheme. Participants will receive, amongst other things, tips on how to prepare their application properly. Further information on the conditions of the grant scheme is available here.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay
