Netherlands Launches €134 Million Green Innovation Fund for Clean Technology Pilots

2025-12-23 green

The Hague, Tuesday, 23 December 2025.
The Dutch government will open its DEI+ subsidy program on January 27, 2026, offering up to €134 million to companies testing CO2-reducing technologies. This comprehensive funding covers general energy innovations, hydrogen projects, and green chemistry developments, with maximum grants reaching €30 million per demonstration project. The six-month application window represents a significant opportunity for Dutch businesses to scale sustainable solutions with substantial government backing.

Building on Previous Investment Success

This January 2026 launch builds on the Netherlands’ earlier commitment to energy innovation, following the government’s allocation of over €450 million through four subsidy schemes in 2025 [https://inspirega.bytes.news/e2ac24f-energy-innovation-government-investment/]. The DEI+ program represents a strategic continuation of this investment trajectory, specifically targeting breakthrough technologies in renewable energy, industrial decarbonization, and grid optimization to reduce fossil fuel dependence while maintaining the country’s international competitiveness [1]. The timing positions Dutch companies to capitalize on both domestic innovation support and the evolving European green technology market.

Comprehensive Coverage Across Innovation Sectors

The DEI+ subsidy program encompasses multiple technological domains essential for the Netherlands’ climate transition. Companies can secure funding for general energy and climate innovations, including energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy promotion, and energy system flexibility projects [1]. The program also provides dedicated support for hydrogen and green chemistry initiatives, covering hydrogen transport and storage, hydrogen as industrial fuel, green hydrogen as feedstock, and electrochemical conversion of CO2 [2]. Additionally, the scheme extends to specialized areas such as waste stream gasification for converting residual streams into renewable energy or raw materials [4], and biobased circular projects focusing on polyesters from biogebaseerde carbohydrate-rich raw materials [7].

Substantial Financial Support with Clear Parameters

The program offers significant financial backing with maximum subsidies reaching €30 million for demonstration projects, €25 million for pilot projects, and €25 million for test and experimentation infrastructure projects [1]. For specialized sectors, the funding structure varies: biobased circular projects receive up to €10 million for demonstration projects and €1 million for pilot projects from a dedicated €22 million budget sourced from the Nationaal Groeifondssprogramma BioBased Circular [7]. The subsidy percentages range from 25% for pilot projects to 30-50% of additional costs for demonstration projects, with higher percentages available for small and medium-sized enterprises [3]. Applications will be assessed on a first-come, first-served basis, emphasizing the importance of early submission during the January 27 to July 30, 2026 application window [1][2][4][7].

Success Stories and Market Validation

The DEI+ program has already demonstrated its effectiveness through notable projects that showcase the diversity of supported innovations. Peabbl, utilizing the mineral olivine to create CO₂-binding building materials that prevent emissions from traditional cement production, secured over €2 million in DEI+ subsidies from a total project cost of approximately €6 million [1]. Another example includes the Indië-terrein research project in Almelo, which investigates efficient storage of self-generated solar energy through eight homes connected to a neighborhood battery system [1]. These projects must demonstrate technical and economic feasibility while ensuring CO2 emission reductions in the Netherlands within 10 years of project commencement, with a maximum project duration of four years [1][2][4][7]. Companies must begin project execution within six months of subsidy approval, ensuring rapid deployment of funded technologies [1][2][4][7].

Bronnen

climate innovation government subsidy