Subsidies (National Environmental Promotion Programme)

Updated: 18.12.2018

Author: Tim Sternkopf

Besides the quota regulation, biofuels and bioliquids are indirectly supported through subsidies. Inter alia, investment grants on a national or state level incentivise the conversion of diesel or gasoline fuelled vehicles into biomethane or natural gas driven vehicles. The main investment promotion programme is the so called national ‘klimaaktiv mobil’ scheme which supports the deployment of environmental friendly vehicles, electric mobility and renewable energies, cycling and mobility management. Projects are financed from the national environmental promotion programme (UFI - Umweltförderung im Inland) and the Climate and Energy Funds. Current promotional offers on a national level are available on the clearing agency’s (Kommunalkredit Public Consulting) website. Information on currently available subsidies on a national and state level can be also found on the website of the Austrian Energy Agency: Link  

 

 

Eligible technologies

According to the subsidy guidelines, all company mobility concepts are eligible which contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (§ 4 para. 1 lit. d-f Guidelines 2015).

Biofuels

Within the scope of this support scheme, biofuels are liquid or gaseous fuels produced from biomass. Biofuels from food crops are made from cereals and other plants of high starch content, sugar plants and oil crops following the proposal of the European Commission for a Directive amending the Directive 98/70/EC on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (§ 3 para. 5 Guidelines 2015). Usually, only vehicles are supported if the vehicle is at least fuelled with biofuels by 50%. 

Electricity

Charging stations solely charging electricity from renewable energy sources on public areas (at least 8 hours accessible on workdays) are eligible for support. Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid and vehicles equipped with range extenders as well as electric bicycles and electric transport bicycles are eligible for support. 

Hydrogen

Fuel cell vehicles are eligible for a buyer’s premium.

Amount

The costs for investments into mobility and transport measures might be reimbursed by 30% if they are in line with the subsidy guidelines and the Environmental Aid Act. However, the subsidy amount is defined by the extent of the reduction of emissions and the compliance with sustainability criteria (§ 10 para. 1 subpar 4 Guidelines 2015). The Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT) may, after consulting the Commission, establish technical, environmental, social and economic criteria in the sense of sustainable development for the differentiation of the level of funding (§ 10 para. 10 in conjunction with § 5 para. 5 Guidelines 2015). Buyer’s premium for biofuel-driven vehicles and support of conversion to such drive systems (municipalities and companies): • Max. 30% of investment costs • Annual biofuel share > 50% per vehicle • Support per vehicle:

  • Fully hybrid: € 600 o Vegetable oil: € 500
  • Biodiesel: € 200 o Super ethanol E85: € 200
  • Biogas: € 1,000 for small and € 2,000 large vehicles
Charging station support (municipalities and companies): • Public charging stations/wall boxes are subject to support • Max. 30% of investment costs • Only electricity from RES • > 8 hours publicly accessible per day • Support per charging station is set as follows:
  • Charging station or wall box < 3,7 kW: € 200
  • Wall box 3,7 – 22 kW: € 200
  • Charing station 3,7 – 22 kW: € 1,000
  • Accelerated charging > 22 kW: € 2,000
  • Fast-charging > 43 kW (AC) or ≥ 50 kW (DC): € 10,000 
Electric vehicle buyer’s premium (municipalities): • Electric and fuel cell vehicles: € 2,500 • Plug-in hybrid and range-extender equipped vehicles: € 750 • E-mopeds and e-motorcycles: € 375 • Transport e-bikes: € 250 • E-bikes: € 100 Electric vehicle buyer’s premium (companies): • Electric commercial vehicles:
  • Max. 30% of investment costs eligible for support
  • Light vehicles (L2e, L5e, L6e, L7e): € 1,000
  • Light commercial vehicles (2,5 – 3 t maximum weight): € 20,000
  • Electric mini-buses (M2): € 20,000
• Electric and fuel cell vehicles: € 2,500 • Plug-in hybrid and range-extender equipped vehicles: € 750 • E-mopeds and e-motorcycles: € 375 • Transport e-bikes: € 250

• E-bikes: € 100

Electric vehicle buyer’s premium (private individuals):

• Electric and fuel cell vehicles: € 2,500

• Plug-in hybrid and range-extender equipped vehicles: € 750

The support period is limited to 2017 and 2018.

More information (in German): https://www.klimaaktiv.at/mobilitaet/elektromobilitaet/foerderaktion_epkw2.html

In English: https://www.klimaaktiv.at/english/mobility/Mobility.html

Addressees

Support within UFI is directed primarily at natural or legal persons registered on the territory of Austria (§ 26 para. 1 UFG).

Procedure

Process flow

  • Application: The grant application is submitted to the settlement agency Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH (KPC).
  • Evaluation: The KPC assesses the application and forwards it to further evaluation to the Commission on matters of environmental assistance in Austria. (§ 28 UFG)
  • Decision making: On the basis of the Commission’s recommendations, the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water decides on each application.
  • Conclusion of a contract: Following the Minister’s decision, the KPC signs a contract with the applicant and is responsible for its execution.

 

 

 

Competent authority

Responsible for the entire support scheme is the Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism. The Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH is entrusted as a settlement agency with the practical development of support programmes.

Distribution of costs

State

The UFI incentive scheme is financed from the budget of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism (BMNT). Until 2021, the funding under the UFI amounts to € 80 million per year (§ 6 para. 2f UFG).

Austria

Further information

Basic information on legal sources