Introduction

On March 20, 2025, a total amount of 140.000.000€ was announced for the support of large and small to medium-sized businesses in the energy sector through four new funding programs. These programs are part of the “Just Development Transition” program of the NSRF 2021-2027 and aim to support investment plans related to the production of renewable energy sources, the development of renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration.

In early April, the first modification of the submission invitations for the four actions of the program took place. This modification included changes regarding the alteration of the corporate and shareholder composition of businesses, setting new conditions and procedures for managing and updating their corporate structure. Additionally, the NACE code 35.11.10.03, which concerned the production of electricity from wind energy conversion, was removed, making this specific activity ineligible for the program. Furthermore, other clarifying changes were made, primarily concerning procedural issues, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the conditions and the successful execution of the program’s actions.

The new programs aim to support investment projects in the fields of renewable energy production, renewable hydrogen development, and high-efficiency cogeneration. The main objective is to strengthen the regions of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis, offering significant funding opportunities for businesses wishing to invest in clean and sustainable energy sources. Additionally, these programs are expected to contribute to the social and economic transition of these regions, which are affected by the de-lignification process.

Their goal is to support the transition of these regions toward a climate-neutral economy and to promote sustainable development, while simultaneously addressing the social, labor, economic, and environmental impacts arising from the de-lignification process.

Below are the key features of the 4 new calls for proposals:

1. Support for investment projects by existing large enterprises aimed at promoting the production of energy from renewable sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration in the Just Transition Territorial Plan areas of the Western Macedonia and Megalopolis regions

Programme Budget: 40.000.000€

Minimum and Maximum Eligible Investment Budget: From 5.000.000€ to 45.000.000€

Eligible Beneficiaries: Large enterprises implementing investment projects within the Just Transition Territorial Plan (JTTP) areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis. The investment must fall under at least one of the eligible activity sectors listed in Annex II of the call. Eligible enterprises must be “existing,” meaning they must have registered a business start at the Tax Office before 01/01/2023

Support Intensity: From 30% to 75% of the investment budget

Main Categories of Eligible Expenses:

• Investment Expenditures: For the production of renewable energy sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration, including heat pumps (in accordance with Directive 2018/2001)

Maximum eligible expenditure rate: 100% of the subsidized budget

• Other Expenditures: For energy production and high-efficiency technologies not covered by the above category

Maximum eligible expenditure rate: 100% of the subsidized budget

• Wage Costs for Employees with Disabilities: Maximum eligible amount: 60.000€ total per enterprise and up to 15.000€ per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) with a disability

Eligible percentage: 100% of the wage cost for employing workers with disabilities

• Support for investment projects by new and startup large enterprises for the promotion of energy production from renewable sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration in the Just Transition Territorial Plan areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis

Program Budget: 40.000.000€

Minimum and Maximum Eligible Investment Budget: From 5.000.000€ to 45.000.000€

Eligible Beneficiaries: For new enterprises, a “Beneficiary” is defined as the legal entity submitting the proposal. For startups (under formation), the beneficiary may be a natural or legal person (or group thereof) submitting the proposal to establish a company. Eligible beneficiaries include new and startup large enterprises that will implement investment projects in the regions of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis, related to eligible NACE codes. A new enterprise is considered one that started operations after 01/01/2023, while a startup (under formation) refers to an enterprise that will be established after the application is submitted

Support Intensity: From 30% to 75% of the investment budget

Main Categories of Eligible Expenses:

• Investment Expenses: Related to the production of renewable energy sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration, including heat pumps (in accordance with Directive 2018/2001)

Maximum eligible expenditure rate: 100% of the subsidized budget

• Other Expenses: Related to energy production and high-efficiency technologies not covered under the above category

Maximum eligible expenditure rate: 100% of the subsidized budget

• Wage Costs for Employees with Disabilities:

Maximum eligible amount: 60.000€ in total per company and up to 15.000€ per Employee with Disabilities (EwD)

Eligible percentage: 100% of the wage cost for employing individuals with disabilities

• Support for investment plans of existing small and medium-sized enterprises for the promotion of renewable energy production, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration in areas of Territorial Just Transition Plans of the Western Macedonia and Megalopolis regions

Program Budget: 20.000.000€

Minimum and Maximum Eligible Investment Budget: From 500.000€ to 12.000.000€

Eligible Beneficiaries: Eligible to participate are Existing Very Small, Small, and Medium Enterprises that will implement an investment project in eligible activities. Existing enterprises are those that have registered their business before the issuance of the call and have completed at least one financial year, with the necessary tax forms submitted to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR)

Support Intensity: From 50% to 75% of the investment budget

Basic Categories of Eligible Expenses and Maximum Eligible Percentages of the Subsidized Budget and/or Maximum Limits:

• Investment Expenses for the production of renewable energy sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration, including heat pumps (according to Directive 2018/2001)

Up to 100% (Article 41 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Other Expenses: Up to 100% (Article 41 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)
• Salary Costs for Employees with Disabilities: 60.000€ and up to 15.000€ per Disabled Employee (Article 33 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)
• Participation in Trade Fairs: Up to 10% and up to 200.000€ (Article 19 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)
• Packaging Design, Labeling, and Branding Services: Up to 10% and up to 150.000€ (Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)
• Consulting Support for Monitoring the Implementation of the Investment Plan: Up to 5% and up to 50.000€ (Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)
• Technical Studies Necessarily Related to the Investment Plan’s Expenses: Up to 10% and up to 500.000€ (Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Support for investment plans of new and under-establishment small and medium-sized enterprises for the promotion of energy production from renewable sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration in the areas of the Territorial Just Transition Plans of the Western Macedonia & Megalopolis Region.

Program budget: 20.000.000€

Minimum and maximum eligible investment budget: From 500.000€ to 12.000.000€

Eligible Beneficiaries: Eligible to participate are new and under-establishment very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as defined by EU Regulation 651/2014, that will implement an investment plan in eligible activities. The classification of the enterprise as small, very small, or medium-sized applies if the employment and financial criteria are met for two consecutive years. New enterprises are those that started after 01/01/2023, while under-establishment enterprises are those that will be established after the submission of the funding application

Support intensity: From 50% to 75% of the investment budget

Basic categories of eligible expenses and maximum eligible percentages of the subsidized budget and/or maximum limits

• Investment Expenses for the production of renewable energy sources, renewable hydrogen, and high-efficiency cogeneration, including heat pumps (according to Directive 2018/2001)

Up to 100% (Article 41 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Other Expenses: For energy production and high-efficiency technologies not covered by the previous category

Up to 100% (Article 41 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Wages for Employees with Disabilities: Up to 60.000€ for the entire company and up to 15.000€ per Employee with Disability (EWD)

Eligible percentage: 100% of the wage cost for the employment of employees with disabilities (Article 33 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Participation in Trade Fairs: Up to 10% and up to 200.000€

(Article 19 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Packaging Design – Labeling – Branding Services: Up to 10% and up to 150.000€

(Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Consulting Support for Monitoring the Implementation of the Investment Plan: Up to 5% and up to 50.000€

(Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

• Technical Studies Indispensably Related to Investment Plan Expenses: Up to 10% and up to 500.000€

(Article 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation)

Submission period, application process and project duration

The evaluation of investment plans will be carried out through a comparative assessment, focusing on the sustainability of the proposals, the implementation of innovative technologies, and their contribution to the local community and economy. The electronic submission of funding applications through the Integrated Information System for State Aid (iSAMIS) started on April 9, 2025, and the application submission deadline is June 13, 2025, at 15:00.

The eligibility start date for expenses is the date of submission of the application in iSAMIS. The maximum duration for project completion is 36 months from the issuance of the Decision on the Approval of Evaluation Results.

For more information on these four programs, other available funding opportunities, or any support related to the planning and implementation of your investment projects, please do not hesitate to contact us at 231 0 552000 or 210 9580000, or via email at [email protected].