Loans for renewable energy companies
Bank loans for renewable-energy generation, storage and local distribution projects in Germany, with eligibility determined by the company’s owners and technology. Finance can cover up to 100% of eligible investment costs.
Αυτή η ευκαιρία είναι προς το παρόν διαθέσιμη στα Αγγλικά.
Under the loan option, Rentenbank supplies the funding through a bank or savings bank chosen by the borrower. You repay principal and interest and provide customary bank collateral. The normal ceiling is €25 million per borrower per year; a larger amount requires prior agreement, and state-aid limits still apply.
The interest rate depends on the relevant programme rate, creditworthiness and collateral quality. The bank must explain its risk classification and stay within Rentenbank’s permitted rate ceiling. The current standard schedule includes instalment-loan terms from 3 to 30 years, with years without principal repayments depending on the option; different terms can be agreed. Rates are fixed using the date Rentenbank receives the bank’s complete application.
Rentenbank charges no processing fee. A financing partner’s processing fee is capped at 1% of the loan and €1,250. The current rate sheet also charges 1.8% a year on undrawn amounts from the next first day of a month five months after approval. Early repayment is generally unavailable during the fixed-interest period; statutory termination rights remain. If the bank exceptionally agrees to early repayment for a legitimate interest, it may charge compensation for its loss. Full or partial repayment is allowed at the end of the fixed-interest period.
With the finance-leasing option, your business obtains the use of eligible movable equipment through a leasing company and pays lease instalments. Rentenbank refinances the arrangement through the bank, which passes the funding to the leasing company. The financing advantage must reach your business through the permitted lease payments. The annuity loan, with regular interest and principal payments, belongs to this refinancing arrangement; it is not a loan paid to you as the lessee. End-of-term residual values can be taken into account if requested. The effective comparison rate and any leasing-company processing fee must be disclosed to Rentenbank with the application. This option covers mobile investment goods only and cannot be combined with other state aid for the same project.
Eligibility
Projects must be in Germany. The programme accepts all legal forms and distinguishes four ownership groups: at least 50% farmer/forester ownership; at least 50% ownership by agricultural supply-chain businesses; municipal ownership; and other ownership without an agricultural connection. Agricultural and forestry businesses carrying out their own energy project also qualify. Municipal and other non-agricultural owners must carry out the renewable-energy project in a rural area. Check the location through Rentenbank’s linked rural-area guidance with the financing partner.
Eligible construction and modernisation depend on the ownership group:
- Bioenergy, including biogas, biomethane, biomass combined heat and power, wood gasification and biogenic fuels: all four groups. Machinery and operating inputs exclusively for bioenergy production are also covered.
- Wind: all four groups, on agricultural or forestry land.
- Rooftop solar: farmer/forester, agricultural supply-chain and municipal owners. Other owners qualify only where the building is or was used for agriculture.
- Ordinary ground-mounted solar: farmer/forester owners only.
- Agri-solar meeting DIN SPEC 91434 or DIN SPEC 91492: all four groups; submit the agricultural land-use plan with the application.
- Hydropower, geothermal and other renewable generation: farmer/forester, agricultural supply-chain and municipal owners, excluding the other-owner group.
- Storage and local distribution, such as heat networks, of energy from eligible generation plants: all four groups.
Any required environmental impact assessment must be complete and the project permit issued. VAT is eligible only when it cannot be deducted. Rentenbank excludes prohibited products and activities, specified weapons and radioactive materials, unbound asbestos, destructive fishing, nuclear power/uranium mining, coal activities and specified unconventional oil extraction; its list retains exceptions for certain medical, quality-control or insignificant/shielded radioactive sources.
Companies with an unpaid European Commission aid-recovery order are excluded. Rentenbank also applies a formal financial-distress test: loss of more than half the relevant capital through accumulated losses, insolvency or grounds for creditor-requested insolvency, unresolved rescue/restructuring aid, or—for companies outside the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) category—both excessive debt and insufficient earnings to cover interest in each of the last two years. The latter thresholds are debt-to-equity above 7.5 and EBITDA interest cover below 1. For an SME in its first three years, Rentenbank’s factsheet applies only the insolvency ground.
Where general de-minimis aid is included, the aid is the calculated interest advantage, not the loan principal. The total general de-minimis allowance is €300,000 over any three-year period for the single undertaking, including companies linked through control. Declare previous and requested aid. Loan aid combined with other aid for the same project must stay within the applicable aid ceiling, counting Rentenbank’s advantage toward the maximum intensity allowed by the other funding. Leasing cannot be combined with other state aid for that project.
Generation and storage receive only aid-free loan conditions if the plant or a connected plant receives German renewable-electricity (EEG) or combined-heat-and-power (KWKG) support, particularly a feed-in tariff. Plants with power-purchase agreements, or permanent direct sales without state support, can qualify for aid-bearing conditions.
How to apply
- Κατάσταση
- Δεν έχουν ανακοινωθεί ημερομηνίες
Discuss the project with a bank or savings bank of your choice early, including ownership, technology, location, costs, collateral, repayment schedule and application timing. The partner submits the application to Rentenbank; the programme is not a direct loan application to Rentenbank.
For agri-solar, supply the agricultural land-use plan at application. Where relevant, submit the de-minimis declaration through the financing partner. Confirm other project aid and compliance with the combined-aid limits using the Kumulierungserklärung at application, at the latest before disbursement.
Use the money only for the approved project and provide evidence of its use promptly after completion. Report material changes to the project, costs or ability to service the loan without delay; Rentenbank can inspect records and the project. Programme questions can be sent to programminfo@rentenbank.de or raised on +49 69 2107 500.