Insight into Your Environmental Impact

Have you calculated your footprint? Then you have detailed insight into the CO2 impact of your business operations. The CO2 emissions from your company or products already provide a lot of insight in most cases. However, you can also choose to gain insight into other impact categories, such as water usage, land usage, biodiversity, or toxicity.

After calculating your footprint, it's time to take action. There are dozens of ways to make your company more sustainable and thereby reduce your footprint. By recalculating your footprint every year, you can assess over the years whether your efforts are yielding the desired results.

To work on your footprint at this level, you need to make financial decisions. Wondering how sustainability can be achieved and financed? There are various subsidies that you might be eligible for. We are not experts in the field of subsidies, but we would be happy to show you that there are many possibilities.

What subsidies are available for the horticulture sector?

Energy Efficiency in Greenhouse Horticulture (EE)

With the Energy Efficiency in Greenhouse Horticulture subsidy (EE), you as a (glass) grower can take energy-saving measures. You will receive a subsidy if you purchase and install new energy-efficient equipment, installations, or machines. Think of a heat pump, LED lighting, or advanced climate control. You are also eligible for this subsidy when installing solar panels, wind turbines, or other forms of sustainable energy generation systems. Improving the insulation of your greenhouse or connecting to a district heating network is also covered by the subsidy.

The subsidy is expected to open by the end of 2023.

Market Introduction of Energy Innovations in Greenhouse Horticulture (MEI)

The Market Introduction of Energy Innovation subsidy (MEI) stimulates innovative energy technologies and solutions and supports market introduction. Are you working with your company on the development and implementation of groundbreaking energy innovations? Then you may be eligible for this subsidy.

Groundbreaking energy innovations include innovative energy technologies such as sustainable energy generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, smart grids, and hydrogen technology. With the subsidy, you receive a financial contribution that you can use to cover the costs of research, development, demonstration, and market introduction of the energy innovation.

This MEI subsidy is currently closed. Keep an eye on the RVO website; it will indicate if and when the subsidy will be reopened.

Footprint subsidy for growers

Bent u van plan om de improve van uw product (opnieuw) te berekenen? Het inzicht van een footprint berekening is de basis om de productie continu te verbeteren vanuit het perspectief van milieu impact. Echter, wat zegt de footprint berekening eigenlijk? En hoe presteert de ene kweker ten opzichte van collega’s? Wat is de milieubelasting van het ene gewas ten opzichte van het andere gewas?

Greenport West-Holland, in collaboration with Greenhouse Sustainability, intends to launch an initial anonymized benchmark using a larger number of footprint calculations for various crop groups, including ornamental horticulture as well as greenhouse-grown vegetables and fruits. The aim is to provide entrepreneurs with better perspective on a footprint calculation through this benchmark. The footprint of at least 3 growers is calculated for each product group to determine an average.

Hiervoor is door de provincie Zuid-Holland een subsidie beschikbaar gesteld voor een product footprint berekening van 2022. Benieuwd of u in aanmerking kan komen voor deze subsidie? Neem dan contact met ons op.

What other subsidies are available?

Stimulation of Sustainable Energy Production and Climate Transition (SDE++)

The SDE++ is a subsidy that encourages companies to develop sustainable energy production and CO2-reducing techniques. The goal of the SDE++ is to promote the transition to a more sustainable energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The SDE++ supports projects that use renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy, biomass, and geothermal energy, as well as projects for CO2 reduction and electric transportation.

The SDE++ compensates for the cost difference between sustainable energy production and conventional energy sources. This makes it more profitable to invest in a sustainable energy project.

This subsidy is open from September 5th to October 5th, 2023.

Investment Subsidy for Sustainable Energy and Energy Saving for business users (ISDE)

Do you want to make your production process or building more sustainable? That's where the ISDE comes in. This subsidy is intended for organizations that want to invest in sustainable energy installations. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions, stimulate energy savings, and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy sources. This includes heat pumps, solar boilers, solar panels, and/or small-scale wind turbines. It's important to apply for the subsidy first and then have the device installed.

Please note that the subsidy for solar panels and small wind turbines runs until December 31st, 2023.

Subsidy for SMEs' Sustainability (SVM)

The Subsidy for SMEs' Sustainability (SVM) is designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions, promoting energy efficiency, and contributing to the transition to a more sustainable economy.

This subsidy supports SMEs in making their business operations more sustainable and taking energy-saving measures. You are eligible if it involves energy-saving techniques, energy-efficient equipment, building insulation, and sustainable energy generation.

Please note that the subsidy for SMEs' sustainability runs until September 30th, 2023.

Energy Investment Deduction (EIA) for entrepreneurs

The Energy Investment Deduction (EIA) is not a subsidy but a fiscal deduction. The EIA offers businesses and entrepreneurs fiscal benefits for taking energy-saving measures and investing in sustainable energy generation.

The EIA provides an additional deduction from corporate income tax for investments that meet the specified energy-saving criteria and provides an average benefit of 11%.

This applies to investments in energy-saving techniques and sustainable energy generation, such as heat pumps, solar panels, LED lighting, insulation measures, energy-efficient cooling and freezing installations, etc.

Prepare for obligations

An extra incentive to start reducing your footprint is (future) obligations. Familiarize yourself with the obligations that apply in your industry. For example, offices consuming more than 50,000 kWh of electricity or 25,000 m3 of gas are subject to energy-saving requirements. Your office must have at least energy label C from 2023. Be prepared for such (future) obligations and avoid penalties. With a footprint calculation, you're taking the first step: gaining insight.

For more information or to have a cup of coffee with us, please contact us.