Which costs are eligible?  

The components eligible for support are listed as ‘essential components’ for each technology in the exhaustive technology list. Essential components are elements forming part of the core of the installation.  

To qualify for the ecology premium plus, investment must be made in all essential components of the technology. Exceptions may only be permitted following prior approval by VLAIO.  

Investments must be capitalised and depreciated by the applying enterprise over a minimum period of three years in accordance with accounting legislation. Where the ecological investment is implemented by an asset holding company, the asset holding company must capitalise and depreciate the investment.  

! Important – Only invoiced and capitalised (external) costs and the capital value of a financial lease are eligible. Support is granted for the residual value only if it has also been capitalised, and no later than the application for disbursement of the final tranche.  

! Important – Installation costs are eligible only if listed among the essential components. Internal costs (wages), operating costs, study costs, inspection costs, demolition costs and building construction costs are not eligible. 

What is the support percentage?

The net support percentage is specified per technology in the exhaustive technology list. When the support application is submitted in the application platform, the subsidy amount is calculated automatically based on the information provided. 

How is the net support percentage determined?

The net support percentage is determined in advance for each technology based on the additional cost of the essential components, the investment type, the size of the enterprise and the eco-class:  

• The additional cost (also referred to as the ‘extra investment’) is calculated by comparing the ecological investment with a technically comparable standard investment having the same production capacity but lacking the environmental advantages of the ecological investment.
• Investment type: technologies receive different support percentages depending on their category under the European General Block Exemption Regulation (e.g. environmental protection or energy efficiency).
• Enterprise size is determined based on the European SME definition. Small and medium-sized enterprises receive a higher support percentage than large enterprises under the ecology premium plus.
• A technology may fall under eco-class A or B. The eco-class results from a calculation using the ReCiPe Endpoint method based on an LCIA (Life Cycle Impact Assessment) and policy priority. 

Maximum support

Total support amounts to a maximum of €1 million per enterprise over a period of three years. This period starts from the first approved support application.