Netherlands Launches €10 Million Carbon Removal Subsidy Program
Amsterdam, Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
The Dutch government announces a €10 million funding initiative targeting innovations that can actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Applications open March 17-April 16, 2026, with individual subsidies ranging from €25,000 to €4 million for projects lasting up to four years that must become commercially viable within ten years.
MOOI Framework Powers New Climate Initiative
The carbon removal subsidy operates under the existing MOOI (Missie gedreven Onderzoek, Ontwikkeling en Innovatie) framework, administered by the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) [1][2]. This approach allows entrepreneurs and research institutions to collaborate on developing innovative carbon dioxide removal technologies while working toward the Netherlands’ ambitious climate goals [2]. The MOOI program typically opens twice per year and requires a mandatory pre-registration process before companies can submit their final applications [2][3]. Projects must demonstrate a minimum of €2 million in eligible costs to qualify for funding, with research organizations permitted to handle a maximum of half of these costs [1].
Strategic Context for Climate Neutrality
The initiative forms part of the Netherlands’ broader strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, which requires not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions but eventually achieving net negative emissions [2][3]. Current carbon removal technology remains insufficiently developed for large-scale deployment, creating an urgent need for government investment in research and development [2][3]. The Dutch government recognizes that after maximizing emission reductions, residual emissions will still exist, making active carbon dioxide removal essential for compensating these remaining outputs [3]. This technological gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Dutch innovators to develop commercially viable solutions that could serve global markets.
Broader Innovation Ecosystem
The carbon removal subsidy represents one component of a larger €450 million innovation funding commitment by the demissionair kabinet-Schoof, distributed across MOOI, EKOO, DEI+, and HEP schemes [4]. The DEI+ (Demonstratie Energie- en Klimaatinnovatie) program, for instance, offers 25% to 80% coverage of eligible costs for energy and climate innovations, with applications opening from January 27 to July 30, 2026, and an expected budget of approximately €224 million [5]. Meanwhile, the European Innovation Fund provides additional opportunities for Dutch companies developing carbon capture technologies, including Direct Air Capture (DAC), with subsidies ranging from €2.5 million to over €100 million depending on project scale [6]. These parallel funding streams create multiple pathways for Dutch carbon removal innovations to secure development capital.
Application Timeline and Requirements
Companies interested in the carbon removal subsidy must complete their pre-registration between March 17 and April 16, 2026, with this preliminary step being mandatory for participation in the definitive application round [1][2]. The subsidy covers costs related to industrial research and experimental development, including project activities, pilot programs, and other project expenses that contribute to carbon removal objectives [1]. Successful applicants can expect to receive funding for projects with maximum durations of four years, with the expectation that their innovations will achieve commercial readiness within ten years [1]. The program’s structure reflects the government’s understanding that carbon removal technologies require substantial development time while maintaining pressure for relatively rapid commercialization to address urgent climate needs.