Bavarian Energy Research Program

The Bavarian Energy Research Program primarily targets companies with a registered office or branch in the Free State of Bavaria. For demonstration projects, municipal bodies and sponsors of ecclesiastical and similar institutions are also eligible to apply. The aim is to support projects that involve high technical and economic risk, go beyond the state of the art, and make a significant contribution to the Bavarian, national, and international energy transition.

The program supports a wide range of projects in the field of new energy and energy efficiency technologies. This includes industrial research, experimental development, and technical feasibility studies. Additionally, energy efficiency measures and investments in renewable energies as well as highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) are supported, provided they serve to demonstrate and introduce new technological approaches. Eligible costs are precisely defined, with a focus on innovative components and additional expenses.

Funding is provided as a grant and co-financing of eligible expenses. Funding rates vary between 25% and 50% depending on the type of project. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can, under certain conditions, receive an increase in funding rates by 10 percentage points. Separate maximum funding intensities apply to municipal bodies and ecclesiastical/comparable institutions.

Specific conditions apply to the application and implementation of funded projects. These include a required innovation content and a high technical and economic risk of the project. The essential parts of the project must be carried out in Bavaria. Applying companies must have appropriate research and development capacities and ensure adequate self-financing. Cumulation with other aid is possible in compliance with GBER requirements.

The application process for the Bavarian Energy Research Program is fully electronic. Outlines and formal applications must be submitted to Projektträger Jülich, which reviews and pre-assesses the projects. The final approval decision and disbursement of funds rest with the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.

The legal basis of the Bavarian Energy Research Program is the relevant guideline dated November 22, 2023. This guideline is supplemented by general budgetary provisions of the Free State of Bavaria and the European General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), which regulates the compatibility of aid with the internal market.