Effizienzkredit RLP

Finance energy-saving equipment, renewable energy, resource-efficient production, water and wastewater improvements, waste prevention, lower noise or pollutant emissions, or digitalisation of business operations. Related implementation and adjustment costs can be included, and expert advice can be financed in full. Renewable projects receiving payments under the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) qualify only if the loan is granted without state aid, meaning without a subsidised interest advantage.

New buildings, renovations and refurbishment of premises used by you or rented out must perform better than the applicable requirements of Germany’s building energy law, the Gebäudeenergiegesetz (GEG). Land purchases must contribute to climate or environmental protection and lead promptly to necessary commercial or freelance use, including rental for that use; buying land to hold in reserve is excluded. Eligible costs normally exclude recoverable VAT; VAT can be included if you cannot deduct it.

Borrow up to €10 million for up to 100% of eligible costs. Other public funding can be combined, but it and the ISB financing together must not exceed total project costs, and state-aid limits still apply. Where the loan contains de-minimis aid, the general ceiling is €300,000 for you and companies linked through control, counted as a “single undertaking”, over the three years before each new aid award. Control includes majority voting rights, the right to appoint or remove most board members, or dominant influence under a contract, company rules or a voting agreement, including through other companies. A shared link to the same public body alone does not join companies for this test. This concerns the calculated interest advantage, not the whole loan principal. Declare previous aid for you and the relevant group companies and keep the aid certificate for 10 years, providing it when the competent authorities request it within their set deadline of at least one week.

The bank sets your interest rate according to your creditworthiness and collateral. Loans run for at least two years: terms up to five years allow at most one initial year without principal repayments, terms up to 10 years allow two, and terms up to 20 years allow three. You still pay interest on money drawn during those initial years. Then repay in equal quarterly instalments, or in one final payment for a term of at most 10 years. The rate is fixed for at most 10 years; longer loans receive an extension offer before that period ends. Early full or partial repayment requires compensation for the lender's loss; statutory termination rights remain. Partial extra repayments normally reduce the last scheduled instalments unless agreed otherwise.

The full approved loan amount is paid out, in one payment or parts, normally within 12 months of approval. Drawdowns should use no more than 10 instalments of at least €5,000 each, except possibly the last. Undrawn money incurs a monthly 0.125% commitment fee starting six months and two bank working days after ISB approval. Draw funds alongside the other financing; earlier use is possible when the bank confirms those other funds are not yet available. Normally only draw money that can be used for its purpose within 12 months; return it promptly if timely use becomes impossible, with a later redraw possible. Under the general terms the 12-month rule and return duty do not apply to loans of at most €25,000 or a last instalment below €25,000. For ERP or publicly refinanced/subsidised loans, unless the contract differs, the proportional-drawdown, return and redraw provisions are waived for a loan or last instalment of at most €25,000; the 12-month use condition remains. Natural-person business borrowers must prove their authority to manage and represent the business before drawing funds.

Use the money only for the approved project and keep it in that use for 36 months from full drawdown. Investment items must be capable of being recorded as fixed assets. Tell your bank immediately about changes and prove use and compliance after completing the investment. The bank checks use; ISB must be informed promptly about deviations. Lower costs or increased public funding can reduce the loan and require prompt repayment of excess sums. Savings of at least 20% on a budget item need bank consent before being moved to another eligible item. The bank can demand immediate repayment for loss of eligibility, misuse, obstructing use checks, material false financial information, contract breaches, threatened repayment through worse finances or collateral, reduced costs or increased public funding, or withheld financial records. Contract breaches normally first require an unsuccessful remedy period or warning, subject to legal exceptions. Recovery of the interest advantage and increased interest can follow. The increased loan rate is five percentage points above the statutory base rate, at least 9% a year, with a higher original rate retained. Recovery and interest run from payout for eligibility/use failures, changed eligibility or reduced costs/increased public funding; for the other listed grounds, from the triggering event, at the latest termination. Late use, failure to return unusable funds or failure to report changes that require a reduction can also trigger increased interest from the day after payout. For ERP loans or loans refinanced or subsidised from public budgets, unless the contract says otherwise, the special increased-interest rule starts on the day after payout for obtaining the loan wrongly, misuse, obstructing a use check after a deadline, or failing both to use funds within 12 months and to return them promptly. If eligibility changes or ends later, that special rule starts when the change occurs. The same five-point increase, 9% minimum and higher-original-rate protection apply. The bank may refuse disbursement if grounds for termination exist and, following an ISB request, may seek compensation for undrawn funds. Normal processing is covered by interest and any programme charges; expressly permitted exceptions include documented advance financial advice, services for multi-lender financing and necessary external legal advice.