Hydropower Plants

The funding program is aimed at owners and operators of hydropower plants in Bavaria who plan measures to increase efficiency or expand electricity generation. The goal is to support natural persons, legal entities, and public and ecclesiastical institutions in the environmentally friendly expansion of hydropower.

The program supports investments in hydropower plants that lead to an increase in electricity generation, re-commission decommissioned plants, or enable replacement new construction for site optimization. Primarily, technical and structural investment expenditures, as well as associated planning and engineering services, are subsidized.

Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant, the amount of which can be up to 25 percent of the eligible expenditures. However, there is a maximum funding limit per company and a limitation by the project's economic viability gap. The program also defines clear timelines for project commencement and completion.

Certain conditions must be observed for the application and implementation of the project, including the necessity of water rights approval, compliance with state aid regulations such as the De Minimis rule, and specific budget restrictions. The funding is also subject to a right of revocation and the obligation to provide data for evaluation.

The application process is handled by Project Management Agency Bavaria and requires the use of specific forms. After project completion, both a preliminary and a final proof of use must be submitted, which are reviewed by the granting authority for accuracy and economic viability.

The legal basis of the "Hydropower Plants" funding program is a specific guideline from the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, supplemented by general budgetary provisions and European state aid rules.