Energy aid

Government aid is available for the implementation of energy audits, investments that conserve energy and investments related to the use of renewable energy as well as for European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) projects. The low-carbon economy is promoted by structural funds.

Aid for energy audits

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE) aids comprehensive energy conservation investigations of properties or small and medium-sized enterprises implemented and reported according to the instructions of Motiva and the MEAE, called Motiva-modelled energy audits.

Investment aid

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment may grant investment aid to business and corporations for projects that promote the conservation of energy with the help of new technology or advance the use of renewable energy. Businesses and corporations that are party to energy efficiency agreements can also apply for aid in relation conventional energy efficiency investments.

The Ministry of the Environment supports the energy audits of residential buildings through energy grants. Further information on repair and energy grants is available through municipal governments and the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA).

Aid to ESCO services

In terms of conventional technology projects, the maximum amount of energy aid that can be granted to all businesses and corporations is 15 per cent and requires the project to be implemented by an ESCO service. In other respects, conventional technology projects may be granted energy aid only if the business or corporation in question is party to an energy efficiency agreement.

Structural funds

One of the new themes in the new, 2014–2020 programme period of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) is a low-carbon economy. Motiva has produced material that explains the low-carbon concept in support of the processing and drawing up of applications. The EU-funded Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland (i.e. Rural Development Programme) for 2014–2020 also emphasises environmental aspects and promotes the use of renewable energy.