Subsidies were used as temporary means to improve energy efficiency from 1993 until the end of 2001. They were an element in the redirection of the additional green tax revenue.
Subsidies were available for a wide range of projects. Primarily they were granted to VAT-registered companies operating for business objectives. Projects included:
- Investments in energy efficient equipment
- Investments in heat and electricity production with less CO2 emission
- Energy audits
- Energy management
- Energy efficient design
- Development and demonstration of energy efficient technologies
- Information projects
An evaluation carried out in 1999 estimated a 1.2 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions for trade and industry in 2005 due to the subsidy system, corresponding to 0.7 million tonnes.
Read more about the evaluation of the green taxes and subsidy system in "Green Taxes for Trade and Industry - description and evaluation"(pdf - 44 pages)