The SME Sustainability Grant Scheme (SVM) helps business owners to hire a specialist consultant to provide bespoke energy advice. Applications for the grant can be submitted from 1 October 2021 (9.00 am).
For whom
The grant scheme is open to companies with up to 250 employees (in FTEs) and an annual turnover of no more than €50 million, which:
- own or rent one (or more) business premises (or spaces within them) and;
- are not subject to the statutory energy-saving obligation.
Properties fall under the statutory obligation to make savings where annual consumption exceeds 25,000 m³ of natural gas and 50,000 kWh of electricity.
Grant for advice and support
The grant covers the costs of bespoke advice from a specialist adviser. Support with the implementation of the advice may also be subsidised.
The business owner must demonstrate that they are going to implement one or more of the measures set out in the advice (within two years) or that they have already implemented them.
Only costs incurred for (the provision of) an energy assessment, incurred on or after 2 August 2021, are eligible for the grant.
The costs of the actual measures are not eligible for the grant. Other grant schemes may be available to cover these costs, such as the ISDE or Energy Investment Allowance (EIA).
The measures may involve major or minor alterations to the premises, but may also include changes to other aspects of business operations (such as the use of electric delivery vans).
How much
The grant amounts to 80% of the costs incurred (excluding VAT), up to a maximum of €2,500. For the energy advice, the maximum grant amount is €750.
The minimum subsidy amount for energy advice is also €400 (energy advice costing less than €500 excluding VAT is therefore not eligible for the subsidy).
The grant may be applied for no more than once per business premises.
Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The scheme will run until 30 September 2022 (17:00) or until the budget of €28.2 million has been exhausted, whichever comes first.
Step-by-step guide
Applications for the grant must be submitted via the online portal of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), for which eHerkenning must be used.
RVO has published a guide for applying for the SME Sustainability Grant Scheme roadmap published.