Small solar thermal system grant

• Businesses, other organizations undertaking economic activities, associations, religious institutions, public-law bodies and all Austrian municipalities can apply. Foreign companies can also qualify when the investment is at a business site in Austria.
• The system must be used predominantly for business purposes. For a building with both business and private residential use, more than 50% of the heated gross floor area must be used for business; subordinate residential shares are included. Buildings used exclusively for housing are excluded.
• The collector supplier must hold the Austria Solar quality label, or the collectors must have the Austrian Ecolabel or Solar Keymark certification, or demonstrably meet the criteria underlying those schemes.
• A municipal enterprise receives business terms only if its activity meets the formal “Betrieb mit marktbestimmter Tätigkeit” test: more than 50% cost recovery under the European System of Accounts, full accounting including assets and liabilities, and substantial freedom to decide how it carries out its main function. A municipal supervisory authority may need to confirm this status.
• Agricultural projects qualify only if they are not eligible under agricultural funding. Primary agricultural production means producing agricultural products from crops or livestock listed in Annex I of the EU treaty, without further operations that change the products’ nature. For projects supporting this production, declare the activity in the application; the separate agricultural de-minimis rules apply.
• The grant is awarded as de-minimis aid, which limits how much aid a business may receive. Unless a separate de-minimis regime applies, the ceiling is €300,000 over three years across de-minimis grants. Declare your previous aid in the online application.
• Subordinate federal agencies and measures fulfilling sovereign federal-administration duties are excluded. For installations covered by the EU emissions trading system, only measures affecting existing industrial or commercial installations or processes with environmental investment costs of no more than €2 million qualify. Existing ETS installations supplying electricity or heat to third parties are excluded. Comply with your province’s building rules and public-procurement rules where applicable.
• Normally, the applicant makes the investment and appears as the recipient on the invoices. For post-installation leasing, hire purchase or similar financing, the user applies; ownership must transfer to them or the contract term must match the funded measure’s required useful life. Payment of the grant cannot exceed instalments and deposits already paid, excluding interest and charges.
• Keep the funded system in operation for at least ten years, retain evidence for at least ten years after the grant is awarded, and promptly report changes in ownership or control covered by the contract. Failure to meet the grant conditions can lead to repayment.

Status

Løpende søknader

Vilkår for søknadsrunden

• Apply after implementation, within six months of the invoice or final invoice for the main components.

Apply to Kommunalkredit Public Consulting through the linked solar thermal online form after completing the installation. Submit within six months of the invoice or final invoice for the main system components.

Upload the signed grant-settlement form, detailed invoices and the photo ID of its signatory. Interim invoices and undetailed lump-sum invoices are not accepted. Include a signed de-minimis declaration if your business received relevant aid in the past three years. For leasing or contracting finance, include the contract and proof of paid instalments. KPC may request further documents; payment follows its assessment and approval by the responsible federal minister.