Grants to retrofit construction equipment and vessels
SSEB Retrofit helps Dutch construction businesses and equipment lessors convert equipment they already own and use. It supports electric and qualifying hydrogen conversions as well as nitrogen-oxide reduction. Applications close on 30 October 2026 at 17:00; the budget is already oversubscribed.
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The Subsidieregeling Schoon en Emissieloos Bouwmaterieel (SSEB) Retrofit pays towards modifications to existing construction machinery, mounted auxiliary equipment and seagoing construction vessels. It is separate from SSEB Aanschaf for buying new equipment. Its main aim is lower nitrogen-oxide (NOx) pollution, with carbon dioxide and particulate reduction as secondary aims. Its climate relevance includes replacing fossil-fuel drives with electric or qualifying hydrogen systems; an SCR exhaust-treatment retrofit alone is not evidence of lower carbon emissions.
Rates apply to eligible retrofit investment costs excluding VAT, not the value of the existing machine or vessel. Installation labour and mounting materials can qualify, including your own work charged at market rates. Depending on the category, eligible items include the catalyst and testing; electric drive, control electronics, battery or fuel cell and hydrogen storage; replacement engine and software changes; conversion kit and hydrogen/ammonia tank; or shore-power connection and electrical systems. Major machine modifications may include the cost of obtaining CE conformity marking.
| Retrofit category | Large company | Micro, small or medium company |
|---|---|---|
| A–E: machinery exhaust treatment, electrification or hydrogen repowering | 25% | 30% |
| F–G: vessel hydrogen/ammonia repowering or conversion | 25% | 45% |
| H: vessel shore-power installation | 30% | 45% |
The usual ceiling is €300,000 per machine, auxiliary function or vessel measure. It rises to €500,000 only for zero-emission machinery, zero-emission auxiliary equipment or a vessel’s electrical installation with continuous electric motor power of at least 300 kW. The combined SSEB Purchase and Retrofit ceiling is €1.5 million per applicant or corporate group per calendar year. At most one interchangeable battery pack is included in the retrofit investment-cost base.
Public grants or other financial contributions already provided towards acquiring the equipment are deducted from the SSEB subsidy under the scheme’s deduction rule. The same activity on the same machine cannot receive a second subsidy, and unlawful stacking of state aid is excluded. SSEB and the MIA environmental investment tax allowance cannot be combined in 2026.
Eligibility
Your business must have a Dutch establishment and be registered with the Chamber of Commerce under an eligible construction-sector SBI activity code when applying: 39, 41, 42, 43, 49410, 50201, 77120, 77320, 77340 or 77390, including qualifying underlying construction codes. Eligible applicants own the equipment and use it themselves or lease/rent it to other businesses. The equipment must already have been used for construction. Municipalities, provinces, water boards and the other public bodies excluded by the scheme’s applicant definition do not qualify.
Check the 2026 machine list. Machinery must have the relevant retrofit permission in section A; auxiliary equipment and seagoing vessels must meet their listed definitions. Electrically driven machinery has a minimum continuous motor power of 8 kW. The following category conditions also apply:
- A: a Stage V diesel machine rated at least 19 kW but below 56 kW, fitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR), an exhaust-treatment system that cuts NOx, to the scheme’s emission limits.
- B: a Stage II, IIIA or IIIB diesel machine rated 56–560 kW inclusive, retrofitted with SCR to the applicable Stage V NOx limits.
- C: a diesel machine above 560 kW, retrofitted with SCR to the scheme’s NOx limits.
- D: an existing machine or auxiliary function converted to an electric drive powered by a fuel cell or lead-free battery. A converted auxiliary function must be mounted on at least a Euro VI vehicle or Stage V machine; its combustion engine must switch off automatically during electric auxiliary use, and the battery must be plug-chargeable.
- E: an existing machine with a combustion engine up to 560 kW at Stage IIIB or older, or an unregulated engine from 560 kW, repowered with a new hydrogen-only combustion engine of at least 130 kW meeting Stage V, or an engine recognised as equivalent under the regulation.
- F–G: a listed seagoing construction vessel receives a new engine or conversion of its existing engine, meeting IMO MARPOL Tier III and demonstrably obtaining at least 25% of its energy from hydrogen or ammonia.
- H: a vessel’s new electrical installation must demonstrably obtain at least 25% of its energy from shore power.
Fuel-cell conversions under D and hydrogen-engine conversions under E require the applicant/supplier declaration for renewable hydrogen or hydrogen carriers; both biological and non-biological origins are allowed. Machinery must have the required machine-safety conformity. A retrofit already required by EU law is not eligible.
You must pass the formal EU “undertaking in difficulty” test, which can fail even when a business has cash available. Use RVO’s decision tree, which checks matters such as insolvency and outstanding rescue or restructuring aid and, where applicable, financial calculations. SMEs younger than three years at award receive a limited test; insolvency and rescue/restructuring conditions still apply, and linked-group age conditions matter. Outstanding EU state-aid recovery orders also exclude an applicant.
Keep ownership for four years after final settlement. Machinery must be used at least 70% of the time for outdoor construction in the Netherlands. Vessels must work in the Dutch exclusive economic zone for an average of at least 60 days per year during those four years. Report vessel days annually using a charter agreement or logbook; SCR-equipped machinery reports AdBlue/urea consumption. These reports are due within two months after each full year following entry into use. Cooperate with emissions monitoring and report relevant changes promptly. Failure to meet retention or use conditions can lead to a reduced award and recovery of subsidy.
How to apply
- Κατάσταση
- κλειστό
- Ανοίγει
- Κλείνει
- Όροι του κύκλου αιτήσεων
- Budget oversubscribed on 21 September 2026; applications still accepted without an award guarantee.
Apply between 3 March 2026 at 09:00 and 30 October 2026 at 17:00, Dutch local time. On 21 September the €3 million budget was oversubscribed, but RVO still accepted applications because rejected applications or reallocations could release funds. Complete applications are assessed in receipt order; a draw applies if the budget is exhausted on a day with more complete applications than can be funded.
Before applying, sign a retrofit purchase or financial-lease agreement that remains legally cancellable if SSEB is refused. Do not enter an irreversible investment commitment before submitting the application. Include the relevant model, existing engine power, battery capacity and electric/fuel-cell/new-engine ratings. Supply photographs before conversion showing the registration or serial number and the parts to be changed; include an SME declaration where applicable.
SCR projects require suitable type approval or an individual emissions test by a certified measurement business at final settlement. An R132 certificate alone must also meet the scheme’s NOx limits. Hydrogen projects need the relevant supplier declaration and engine approval. Vessel projects need the applicable engine/emissions certificates, permission to work in the Dutch exclusive economic zone and evidence of the 25% energy share. A registered machine converted to zero emission must be inspected by RDW so its registered fuel type can be updated.
Use RVO’s “Direct aanvragen” route with eHerkenning level 3 and the required RVO-service authorisation. An intermediary also needs chain authorisation. The statutory decision period is 13 weeks, extendable once by another 13 weeks.
An award provides a 70% advance. After conversion, request final settlement through RVO’s application-management route and provide invoices and payment evidence, conformity documents, applicable test results and after-conversion photographs. Check the final-settlement requirements in your award and contact RVO promptly if delivery or conversion is delayed. RVO checks compliance again: the final grant cannot exceed the award, and any remaining balance is paid with the final-settlement decision.