{"id":168053,"date":"2026-05-12T03:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T01:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=168053"},"modified":"2026-05-11T09:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T07:51:26","slug":"la-comision-aprueba-un-plan-de-ayudas-estatales-alemanas-de-5-000-millones-de-euros-para-apoyar-la-descarbonizacion-de-la-industria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/la-comision-aprueba-un-plan-de-ayudas-estatales-alemanas-de-5-000-millones-de-euros-para-apoyar-la-descarbonizacion-de-la-industria\/","title":{"rendered":"The Commission approves a \u20ac5 billion German state aid scheme to support the decarbonisation of industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a \u20ac5 billion German scheme to help industrial companies decarbonise their production processes. This scheme contributes to achieving Germany\u2019s energy and climate targets, as well as<\/span>the EU\u2019s objectives of sustainable prosperity and competitiveness<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"humo<\/p>\n

The German plan<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eligible projects must involve fundamental technological changes and replace fossil fuels or raw materials with low-carbon alternatives, such as electrification, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), the use of biomethane, as well as heat recovery and storage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Projects will be selected through a competitive tendering process, based on their cost-effectiveness, measured as the aid requested per tonne of CO\u2082 emissions avoided<\/span>.<\/span><\/sub>Projects must achieve substantial emissions reductions, including at least 50% within four years and 85% by the end of the 15-year contract period. These reductions will be assessed against reference systems reflecting the most efficient conventional production technologies in the relevant sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The aid will take the form <\/span>of two-way carbon contracts for difference <\/span><\/strong>with a duration of 15 years. Beneficiaries will receive annual payments linked to market developments, such as<\/span>EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances<\/span>or energy input prices, compared with conventional technologies. The measure covers only the additional costs of cleaner production processes. If these processes prove to be more cost-effective, beneficiaries will be required to reimburse the difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

Projects receiving support under this programme will be in sectors covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), including steel and other metals, gypsum, glass and ceramics, paper and pulp, cement, lime and chemicals.<\/span><\/p>\n

This measure is based on a plan approved by the Commission in<\/span>February 2024<\/span>and replaces a plan approved in<\/span>March 2025<\/span>, which the German authorities decided not to implement in its original form and to redesign instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission\u2019s assessment<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Commission assessed the plan in accordance with EU state aid rules, in particular<\/span>Article 107(3)(c)<\/span>of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the<\/span>Guidelines on State aid for climate action, environmental protection and energy<\/span>(\u2018CEEAG\u2019), which allow Member States to support measures to reduce or eliminate<\/span>CO\u2082<\/span>emissions<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Commission concluded that:<\/span><\/p>\n