-

Subsidies and grants for energy-efficient commercial buildings

2 min

With its Green Deal, Europe is aiming to become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. In Belgium, the public authorities are strongly supporting this climate plan and encouraging companies to make their buildings more energy-efficient through various subsidies and grants. However, the amounts, terms and arrangements vary greatly from one region to another. Do you know what you can claim? Here is a brief summary.

Public-sector support in Brussels

The Brussels-Capital region provides subsidies and grants for business projects that benefit the environment in most sectors. The full range is clearly summarised on this website.

Since 1 January 2022, you’ve been able to apply for renovation and energy grants through the renolution.brussels platform, which features a total of 45 different grants for construction or renovation work and the related surveys.

Note that you can only submit one application for all of the grants you are entitled to for your renovation. Also, in Brussels, you must submit the application before exchanging contracts on a property.

There are also soil grants for soil remediation work.

Public-sector support in Wallonia

In Wallonia, investment subsidies vary depending on the sector, and on the type and location of the investment. You can find an overview on this website. We’ve selected a few that may interest you.

Energy grants for solar water heating

Wallonia provides grants of €500-2,500 to companies and individuals who install a solar water heating system, provided they meet certain conditions. Grants are also given per additional m² of solar thermal collectors installed.

For more information, visit this website.

Green certificates

To achieve its own targets for renewable energy production and those of the European Union, Wallonia has developed a support mechanism for renewable energy producers. This provides green certificates based on the amount of power generated and its source.

Discover everything you need to know about the mechanism on this website.

Grants and tax exemptions for sustainable energy use

The Wallonia region awards grants covering 20-50% of investments focused on sustainable energy use (renewable power generation, high-efficiency combined heat and power facilities and investments to save energy during the generation process). The percentage depends on the company size and type of investment. A 3- to 5-year exemption from property tax is also provided.

For more information, visit this website.

Public-sector support in Flanders

Flanders grants various types of subsidies to companies that take measures to save energy. Using the search engine on this website, you can easily find out which subsidies and grants you’re entitled to. A brief overview of some of the support measures is provided below.

Energy grant for companies

This is a grant awarded for investments aimed at saving energy (insulation, glazing etc.) and promoting renewable energy (solar water heating, heat pumps, etc.) in existing buildings. The grant amount varies depending on the type of technology.

For more information, visit this website.

Reduction in property tax for buildings with a good energy rating

If your commercial building has a good energy rating, you can benefit from a 50% or 100% reduction in property tax for the first five years after the energy rating is confirmed by the PEB certificate. This measure only applies to full or partial reconstruction projects and to significant energy renovation projects with planning permission.

For more information, visit this website.

GREEN investment aid

With the GREEN programme (Groener en Efficiënter Energiegebruik in de industrie or “greener and more efficient use of energy in industry”), the Flemish government provides financial support to companies that invest in the transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy. Investments aimed at reducing the company's total energy demand by increasing the energy efficiency of a basic activity or process can also be considered under this aid.

For more information, visit this website.

Federal public-sector support

Belgium’s federal government also provides financial support through the investment allowance. Find out everything you need to know about this tax benefit on the SPF Finances website.

Ready to make your commercial building more energy-efficient? We’d be happy to help you make your plans a reality.

Discover our solutions