The STARK funding amendment benefits companies that produce solar panels, batteries, wind turbines, heat pumps, electrolyzers or equipment needed to capture, use and store carbon dioxide. In doing so, the federal government wants to close the gap in supporting structural change in coal regions.

The amendment introduces a new financing category, so that direct commercial financing in transition technologies is now possible in coal regions.

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The federal measure “STARK” amounts to around EUR 2.8 billion and runs until the end of 2038 and is financed through the Coal Regions Investment Act. So far, the primary objective has been to improve the framework conditions for the transition, increase employment and economic performance. As announced by the Federal Ministry of Economics, as a result of the “Glück Auf!” amendment, it is now possible to provide direct support to businesses and create direct industrial jobs through the new funding category “Transition Technologies”. In particular, the development and expansion of production of solar modules, batteries, wind turbines, heat pumps and electrolysers as well as equipment for CO2 capture, utilization and storage will be supported. According to the ministry, the amendment also includes further bureaucratic relief, procedural simplification and assistance.

For financing, the federal government wants to use the exemption from the federal regulations on “Transformation Technologies” and the EU aid framework for the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF). According to the announcement, projects must be approved by 31 December 2025 and must therefore be applied for immediately. Up to 40 percent of eligible investment costs can be financed. In addition, there is further investment funding in the funding categories “Qualification/training and further education”, “Promoting entrepreneurial activity” and “Innovative approaches”.

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For the remaining financing period, around EUR 2.3 billion of financing is available for new applications. The financing areas are primarily located in the still active lignite mining regions of Lausitzer Revier, Rheinisches Revier and Mitteldeutsches Revier, but also in the former lignite mining regions of Helmstedt and Altenburger Land and in structurally weak locations of hard coal-fired power plants such as Wilhelmshaven, Unna, Hamm, Herne, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen, Rostock, Saarlouis and Saarbrücken. New Financing guidelines can be found on the homepage of the Federal Ministry of Economics. available, Applications can now be submitted to BAFA maybe.

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Christian Lindner, Federal Minister of Finance