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Starter package for climate-neutral SMEs

The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia supports small and medium-sized enterprises on their way to climate neutrality.

Manufacturing companies have a double challenge to solve: Energy management and cost efficiency must be improved in a timely manner and, at the same time, investments are needed to achieve climate neutrality in order to maintain their position on the market in the long term. This is because greenhouse gas emissions in North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany must be reduced to a minimum by 2045 at the latest. This is why the “Starter package for climate-neutral SMEs” funding package aims to meet the need for guidance in the area of climate neutrality and at the same time address the urgent need to save energy.

Initial consultation on climate-neutral transformation

Small companies with up to 50 employees receive financial support for a comprehensive initial consultation to initiate the climate-neutral transformation. Consultancy services to clarify fundamental questions are subsidized by 65 percent, with the maximum funding amount set at 10,000 euros.

Due to their often complex production processes, medium-sized companies with up to 2,500 employees face the challenge of strategically planning their own greenhouse gas-neutral transformation. The state government provides manufacturing companies with a maximum grant of EUR 60,000.

Promotional loan “Away from gas”

Small and micro enterprises receive support for the immediate switch from natural gas to renewable energies and other climate-neutral energy sources through NRW.BANK’s new “Weg vom Gas” loan offer. The loan amount of this loan offer, which is designed for a term of 3 to 10 years, is a maximum of two million euros, with a repayment subsidy of 30 percent up to a maximum of 200,000 euros.

Further information