progres.nrw – Program for Rational Energy Use, Renewable Energies, and Energy Saving – Program Area Risk Coverage Hydrothermal Geothermal Energy
Grant program for risk mitigation of hydrothermal geothermal energy in North Rhine-Westphalia – funding of preliminary studies, feasibility studies, seismic surveys, and drilling. Applications can be submitted via the NRW.BANK customer and municipal portal.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports municipalities (cities, towns, districts, as well as their associations and special-purpose associations) and companies regardless of their legal form in the development of medium-depth and deep hydrothermal geothermal energy by securing exploration risk. Funding is provided for preliminary studies, feasibility studies, studies with seismic measurements, as well as exploration and production drilling.
Eligible expenses
- Preliminary studies
- Feasibility studies
- Seismic measurements
- Exploration and production drilling
Eligible to apply
- Public Institutions
- Companies
Funding requirements
- Location of the project in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Completed feasibility study as a prerequisite for drilling promotion
- Submission of a project outline prior to application in the case of seismic measurements and drilling
Documents required for application
- Complete application form
- Project description with planned start and completion dates
- Self-declaration regarding SME definition
- Proof of authorization of the authorized representative
- Customer portal participation declaration
- Inter-municipal cooperation agreement (for inter-municipal approach)
- Application for approval of IT-supported accounting system
- Project outline (for seismic measurements and drilling)
Description
The state of North Rhine-Westphalia supports the economic development of medium-deep (400–1,500 m) and deep (from 1,501 m) hydrothermal geothermal energy within the framework of the progres.nrw grant program. The focus is on securing the exploration risk: funding is provided for preliminary studies, feasibility studies, seismic surveys, as well as exploration and production drilling. The grants are structured in a cascading manner and reduce investment risks in the exploration and extraction of renewable heat sources. Applications can be submitted continuously via the customer and municipal portal of NRW.BANK.
Eligible for funding are cities, municipalities, districts, as well as their associations and special-purpose associations, as well as companies regardless of legal form and shareholder structure. The funding rates range between 45% and 100% of eligible expenses depending on the measure, with a maximum funding limit of €10 million per project. Among other requirements, the project location must be in North Rhine-Westphalia, a completed feasibility study must be available before drilling applications, and a project outline must be submitted prior to applying for seismic surveys or drilling. For the application, among other documents, the complete application form, a project description with a schedule, the self-declaration of SME status, authorizations of the authorized representatives, a participation declaration for the NRW.BANK portal, and, if applicable, an inter-municipal cooperation agreement are required.
Ready to secure your funding?
Register now and let our AI guide you through the application process – from eligibility check to finished application.