First application round for energy investment aid under Finland's Recovery and Resilience Plan
The aim of the subsidy scheme is to promote energy investment and energy infrastructure projects that are in line with the Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland and that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Finland and support the country’s 2035 carbon neutrality target. The scheme also aims to reduce the technological and economic risks of renewable energy and new energy technologies, for example in hydrogen projects.
Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan is the national plan for making use of the funding from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The Plan is part of the Sustainable Growth Programme.
Projects eligible for aid
Subsidies will be allocated to the following investments under pillar 1 of Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and they must be completed by 30 June 2026:
- Investments in energy infrastructure (P1C1I1)
- Investments in new energy technology (P1C1I2)
- Low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture and utilisation (P1C2I1)
- Direct electrification and decarbonisation of industrial processes (P1C2I2)
The granting of aid is based on Government Decree 1112/2021.
Large-scale energy investments supported in this application round
In the first application round, aid will be available only to energy investment and energy infrastructure projects where eligible costs exceed EUR 5 million.
The granting of aid will be based on a comparison of applications by investment type. In overall consideration, the impact of investments on the objectives set in Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan will be assessed. Particular attention will be paid to
- impacts on energy and emissions,
- cost-effectiveness,
- feasibility,
- novelty value of the technology included in the projects,
- replicability of a technology or project, and
- other impacts of the projects.
Subsidies may be granted to companies and other entities such as municipalities, and only to projects or parts of projects that would not be launched without the energy aid. The project or a certain part of the project that will be funded may not be started before applying for aid. Aid will not be granted to housing companies, residential properties or farms, or any projects related to these.
Compliance with the special eligibility criteria and the “do no significant harm” principle for energy investments under Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan
The supported projects must comply with the technical guidelines of the “do no significant harm” principle (2021/C58/01). Projects cannot include activities specified in the exclusion list of the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision (2021/0317). The projects must comply with European Union and national environmental legislation. More detailed information is available in the application instructions.
The granting and use of aid is also subject to other special conditions and obligations imposed on the beneficiary, which are defined in the Decree and described in more detail in the application instructions.
How to apply
Applications for the first application round must be submitted by 4 March 2022.
Applications will be submitted via Business Finland’s electronic system. Funding applications can be submitted via Business Finland’s online services.
Funding will be applied via energiatuki application. Under RRF – Suomen kestävän kasvun ohjelma choose application code RRF – Energiainvestointituki. A separate RRF support application form and other appendices referred to in the application form and instructions must be attached to the application.
The application form and its appendices must be submitted in Finnish or Swedish. Material other than that requested in the instructions must not be submitted.
Application instructions (in Finnish) updated 8 February 2022
Applications in the first application round will be processed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The schedule in which aid decisions will be issued depends on the number of applications and the need for processing.
Read more about the application round
Government Decree on aid for energy investments under Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan in 2022–2026 (in Finnish)
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment organised an information event on the call for applications on 14 January 2022. Additional information (in Finnish)
Website of Business Finland: First application round for energy investment subsidies
Aid decisions
On 4 October 2022, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment made the first energy investment aid decisions under Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan to promote clean energy solutions. Aid was granted to six projects totalling EUR 99.8 million.
On 16 December 2022, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment granted a total of EUR 119,196,068 to 16 clean energy projects under Finland’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Press release 16 December 2022: Clean energy projects receive EUR 119 million in funding
Inquiries:
Juho Korteniemi, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7054 (Sustainable Growth Programme, energy)
Jyrki Alkio, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7103 (Sustainable Growth Programme, industry)
Ossi Paanala, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7310 (project processing)
The email addresses are in the format [email protected].
