Clean and Emission-Free Construction Equipment Subsidy Program (SSEB)

Clean and Emission-Free Construction Equipment Subsidy Program (SSEB)

On October 30, 2023, Fedecom , together with many other organizations, signed the Clean and Emission-Free Construction Covenant (SEB). This is a multi-year program committed to a successful transition to clean and emission-free construction by 2030 and beyond. In collaboration with government agencies, market stakeholders, and research institutions, an approach is being developed for the entire construction sector. Goals and ambitions have been established, focused on reducing nitrogen, CO2, and particulate matter. This also applies to the construction equipment used in the sector.

The transition to clean and emission-free construction equipment brings not only opportunities but also costs, such as those associated with purchasing new emission-free machines. That is why the Clean and Emission-Free Construction Equipment (SSEB) subsidy program exists. This program offers opportunities for Fedecom companies that act as suppliers of zero-emission machinery, as well as for Fedecom companies that purchase such machinery themselves to rent or lease it to other companies. Below, we provide further information about this subsidy program.

Today, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, a new round of the Clean and Zero-Emission Construction Equipment Subsidy Program (SSEB) opens. The program runs through October 31, 2024.

The program is intended for:

Construction companies based in the Netherlands that purchase new zero-emission (construction) machinery for their own use
Companies that purchase new zero-emission (construction) machinery and rent or lease it to other companies.

To be eligible for the subsidy, the company must become the owner of the construction equipment for which the subsidy is being requested. Furthermore, the company must have an address in the Netherlands and, at the time of application, be registered in the commercial register under a specific SBI code. Click here for the list of applicable SBI codes.

What does this program entail?

The SSEB consists of several components:

Purchase (of machinery)
Retrofit (converting purchased machinery to low-emission or zero-emission operation)
Experimental Developments Project (renewal of zero-emission construction machinery and charging infrastructure)
Innovation (funding for feasibility studies leading to an Experimental Development project)

A maximum subsidy amount is available for each component:

For the component Purchase , €36,000,000 is available. This funding can be used to purchase zero-emission construction equipment.
Click here for the list of (construction) machinery eligible for the SSEB 2024.

For the section Retrofit, €10,000,000 is available. Retrofit means converting a newly purchased or used piece of construction equipment to make it low-emission or zero-emission. This program reduces nitrogen emissions in the construction industry. Under the program, you’ll find a breakdown of machines by category. For each category, you can see whether you are eligible for the Environmental Investment Deduction (MIA).

For the section Experimental Developments Project, a total of €9,000,000 will be made available . These funds are intended to modernize emission-free construction equipment and the charging infrastructure.

And finally , there is the fourth component:Innovation , with a total budget of €1,000,000. These funds are earmarked for a feasibility study leading to an experimental development project focused on innovations in zero-emission construction machinery and the associated charging infrastructure.

Are there limits on the amount per machine or company?
For all companies, the maximum subsidy amount per construction machine is €300,000. The subsidy per new emission-free construction machine is also capped at 25% of the additional costs compared to a construction machine with an internal combustion engine. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises, this percentage is capped at 30%.

There is also a limit per company or group of companies. Each may receive a maximum of €1,000,000 in subsidies per calendar year for SSEB Purchase and/or SSEB Retrofit combined. (A group of companies is an economic unit comprising legally affiliated entities and partnerships.)

Has the budget been finalized?
The total budget has been approved by the House of Representatives and will become final once the Senate has approved it.

Webinar on the SSEB by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
The RVO has organized a comprehensive webinar covering the entire SSEB subsidy program. You can watch this informative webinar here.