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The VEKI (Accelerated Climate Investments Industry) subsidizes investments in CO2 reduction in the Dutch industry. Subsidy contribution: 30-50% of investment costs, depending on the type of measure and the size of the company. Threshold: minimum investment of €125,000. Maximum: €15 million per project. Applications to RVO, annual rounds. Virtually indispensable for SMEs with climate ambitions and serious CO2 savings. Below: conditions, types of measures, and how Saskia's pilot setup falls under VEKI.
The short answer
- What: subsidy for CO2-reducing investments in industry.
- Subsidy percentage: 30-50% of project costs (depending on type, size).
- Threshold: minimum €125,000 investment.
- Ceiling: €15 million in subsidies per project.
- Applications: at RVO, annual open round — competitively ranked.
What falls under VEKI?
Investments that reduce CO2 emissions in industrial processes:
- Energy efficiency: heat recovery, insulation, more efficient motors.
- Process replacement: electrification, hybrid installations, alternative raw materials.
- Sustainable energy: solar water heater, heat pump, biomass.
- Waste heat utilization:reusing heat from own process.
- Carbon capture: CCS/CCU pilot projects.
- Process innovation: new techniques that reduce CO2.
Not for: SDE++-eligible projects (which have their own regime), the housing sector, or non-industrial sectors.
Subsidy percentages
Depending on the measure and size of the company:
- Small business (≤ 50 employees): up to 50%.
- Medium (50-250): up to 40%.
- Large company: up to 30%.
- Specific measures: separate percentages, sometimes up to 65%.
Under European State aid frameworks — cumulative limits with other subsidies.
Terms and Conditions
- Investment: minimum €125,000 total project budget.
- Industry: requested by industrial company (SBI codes industry/wholesale).
- Additionally: the investment must be in addition to regular business operations — not a replacement investment that was needed anyway.
- CO2 measurement: demonstrable CO2 reduction, measured over expected lifespan.
- Novelty: proven technology, not pure R&D (for that: other regulations).
Application procedure
- Preparation: technical project plan, CO2 calculation (over lifespan), budget, energy scan report.
- Applications: at RVO during the opening period (once a year, often open for 5-7 weeks).
- Assessment: tender system — projects ranked by CO2 price (subsidy ÷ CO2 reduction). Best projects receive the subsidy.
- Decision: 12-26 weeks after closure.
- Execution: realize project within 4 years.
- Final settlement: after commissioning.
Tender system
VEKI uses tendering: all applications are ranked by CO2 price (€ subsidy per ton of CO2 reduction). Lower = better. The cheapest projects receive subsidies until the budget is exhausted.
Practical tip: the lower your subsidy per ton of CO2, the higher your chance. It is not always worthwhile to apply for the maximum subsidy — strategic underwriting can increase the chance of success.
Saskia's pilot setup
Saskia's cleantech startup wants a pilot plant for green hydrogen — investment €600,000, expected CO2 reduction 200 tonnes/year over a 15-year lifespan = 3,000 tonnes total.
- Subsidy percentage (small business): 50% — €300,000.
- CO2 price: € 300,000 ÷ 3,000 tonnes = € 100/ton.
- At an average benchmark of €150/ton: a good chance.
Falling short of the €250,000 subsidy target lowers the price to €83/ton — significantly better ranking.
Honest recommendation
For industrial SMEs with climate investments: VEKI is often the fastest route to substantial subsidy amounts — up to 50% of the investment. The tender system makes strategy important: do not always apply for the maximum subsidy. A specialized energy consultant (€8,000 – €15,000) assists with CO2 calculations, the business case, and the strategic application. Take the application deadline into account — usually one round per year.
For other topics: EIA subsidy, SDE++ and subsidies overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accelerated Climate Investments Industry: subsidy scheme for CO2-reducing investments in industry. 30-50% subsidy rate, threshold €125,000 investment, ceiling €15 million subsidy. Applications to RVO, open annually.
Energy efficiency (heat recovery, insulation), process replacement (electrification), sustainable energy (heat pump), waste heat utilization, carbon capture, and process innovation. Proven techniques — not pure R&D.
All applications ranked by CO2 price: subsidy ÷ total CO2 reduction over lifespan. The cheapest projects receive subsidies until the budget is exhausted. Applying for lower subsidies can increase the chance of success — the strategy pays off.
Industrial enterprises (SBI codes industry/wholesale) — all sizes. Small enterprise (≤ 50 employees) receives up to 50%, medium-sized up to 40%, large up to 30%. Specific measures sometimes result in higher percentages.
At RVO during the annual opening period (open for 5-7 weeks). Submissions: technical project plan, CO2 calculation over the lifespan, budget, energy scan report. Assessment takes 12-26 weeks via the tender system.
Under European State aid frameworks — cumulative limits apply. Combination with SDE++ is often not possible (overlap), but is possible with EIA (fiscal) under conditions. A subsidy advisor can assess the limits for a specific project.
Almost always at VEKI — CO2 calculations, business cases, and strategic applications are specialist work. An energy consultant costs €8,000 – €15,000 but pays for themselves by a factor of 10-30 if a subsidy is granted.
