News item | 26-04-2023 | 4:00 pm
More than 1,600 sustainable projects have been approved for support through the SDE++ scheme for 2022. This is the most important scheme with which the government can support the production of sustainable energy and the reduction of CO2boost emissions. A maximum budget of approximately € 12 billion has been allocated for this this time. That is the maximum subsidy over the entire term. Actual expenditure is expected to be lower as energy and CO2prices may be higher or projects may not proceed. All approved projects can together produce 4.6 megatons of CO2 savings per year.
Higher budget
The budget of the SDE++ scheme was considerably higher in 2022 than in previous years. This was partly because the European CO2price (ETS) was higher than previously expected, resulting in less subsidy needed for previously approved projects. In addition, the government released a one-off extra budget last year. Due to the higher budget, more sustainable projects are eligible and the Dutch CO2emissions are reduced more quickly.
CO2 capture and storage and sustainable heat
The largest part of the allocated budget (€ 6.7 billion) is reserved for CO2 capture and storage (CCS) projects. It concerns 8 projects that use the Aramis project for the storage of CO2 in depleted gas fields in the North Sea. Because the SDE applications for this project were previously withdrawn or did not go through, this is the first time that budget has been allocated to these projects. In addition, more than € 3 billion has been allocated to renewable and CO2-poor heat, such as geothermal projects, and €1 billion for renewable electricity.
Start SDE++ 2023 this fall
The cabinet has previously announced that ‘fences’ will be introduced in the SDE scheme for the first time in 2023. With a hash mark, a minimum amount is reserved for a specific category, such as high-temperature heat. As a result, techniques that are less cost-effective in the short term, but are necessary for the energy transition in the longer term, are more often discussed. This adjustment requires approval from the European Commission in connection with state aid rules. As final approval for the new scheme has not yet been granted at this time, the 2023 opening round will be postponed to September this year. The scheme will be published shortly, so that parties can prepare for an application.