Federal Environment Fund

Country	Austria
Year Implemented	2001
Policy Status	In force
Date Effective	2001
Agency	•Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management •Kommunalkredit Austria AG
Funding	€ 40 Million (2001)|€ 60 for 2004 through 2006
Policy Type	•Education and Outreach   •Promotion •Financial •Policy Processes   •Strategic Planning •RD & D
Policy Target	•Multiple Renewable Energy Sources   •All
Policy Sector	•Multi-sectoral Policy
Description	Within the framework of the "Umweltförderung des Bundes" (financed by the Federal Environment Fund) in accordance with the Environmental Support Act (Umweltförderungsgesetz, UFG), companies can obtain subsidies for use of renewable energies and other climate related measures like energy efficiency and thermal use of waste. The fund is managed by Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH (a specialised bank) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. From 1993 through 2003, total subsidies issued through the Kommunalkredit for "Umweltförderung" within Austria were € 349.5 million. The federal environmental support programme aims at protecting the environment by: Controlled sewage disposal and warranty of a sufficient water supply, Prevention or reduction of strains due to air pollution, climate-relevant pollutants, noise and waste, Various services supporting plant-related measures abroad, which serve the implementation of national, Community law, or international environmental and climate protection objectives, as well as Remediation of contamined sites The Federal Environment Fund is enabled to fund environment projects with a total budget frame of 69.2 million € in 2005. Over the past years, increasing priority has been given to climate change related domestic projects. In 2005, 81% of the funding sum was dedicated to domestic projects with direct implications on GHG emissions, and that share will even be extended. For the budget period 2006, the total budgetary frame shall been increased to reach 80.2 million EURO, which means, that starting from a granting frame 2003 of 47.238 € the annual granting frame was raised year by year by 11 million EURO. All additional funding (i.e. 66 million € from 2004 to 2006) will be channelled for climate change purposes. Over the past years, funding focused on biomass and biogas district heating, commercial biomass central heating systems, solar panels and energy efficiency measures, small hydro and wind power stations and thermal renovation of commercial buildings. In 2003, subsidies were: - Renewable energy € 25.5 million - Other climate related subsidies € 35.8 million (including € 6.6 million for energy efficiency) The investments resulting from these supports amounted to € 124.8 million, respectively € 169.5 million (therefrom energy efficiency € 29.2 million).
URL	www.public-consulting.at