Onderzoek Energiehubs (EHUB) Grant

About this grant

The EHUB subsidy (Onderzoek Energiehubs) from the Dutch Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland funds research into forming a new energy hub or expanding an existing one. An energy hub is an agreement among a group of businesses to coordinate generation, transport, storage, conversion and use of energy, so that supply and demand are better matched. Hubs can use electricity, heat, hydrogen or green gas. The stated aim is to make better use of the electricity grid and ease grid congestion (netcongestie), while helping businesses decarbonise and grow despite grid constraints. Two types of study are funded. A scan is an exploratory study for forming a new hub. It must cover the combined electricity use of the participants, future electricity needs, and at least three packages of measures. A studie is a fuller study that produces a plan for forming a new hub or expanding an existing one, covering collaboration, the technical design, and new or amended agreements among partners on participation, termination, liability and costs. A scan can be funded alone, a studie alone, or both together. Scan costs are only covered if incurred before the application is submitted, and the scan must have been carried out after the scheme was published on 4 September 2026. Funding levels differ by type. A scan alone receives a fixed amount of up to EUR 5,000 for hubs of up to five businesses or up to EUR 8,500 for six or more. A studie for a new hub receives 70% of eligible costs, with a minimum of EUR 25,000 and a maximum of EUR 42,000. A studie for expanding an existing hub receives 40% of eligible costs, with a minimum of EUR 25,000 and a maximum of EUR 32,000. Where a scan and studie are applied for together, the scan amount counts towards the studie subsidy and the studie maximum does not apply. Certain costs are excluded, including energy-consumption insight costs within a company and process facilitation costs. Applications require supporting documents. These include company details, the grid operator's confirmation that businesses can cooperate (ring or national grid), connection numbers, a collective usage profile, the relevant format templates, a letter of intent signed by each partner, and an action plan for a studie. The scheme is administered through eHerkenning level 2+ and the RVO digital portal.

Eligibility

Applicants must act on behalf of at least three energy hub partners, which must not be affiliated with one another. Affiliation means one company holds more than half the capital of another, or controls it, for example through a parent-subsidiary, sister company or shared shareholder relationship; affiliated companies count as one. At least three of the partners must have a large grid connection, meaning above 3x80 ampere. Other partners do not need a large connection. An applicant may be one of the partners with a large connection, a legal entity set up for the energy hub (such as a cooperative, BV or foundation), or an authorised representative such as a park manager, hub coordinator, business association or municipality acting on behalf of a partner or entity. Municipalities and provinces do not receive the subsidy but may submit as authorised representatives. Social organisations such as sports clubs, schools and care institutions may take part if they are registered with the Chamber of Commerce and offer products or services, regardless of legal form. Energy-generating companies may also participate. Subsidy cannot be stacked for the same costs; any other government subsidy for those costs is deducted. The scheme is Dutch and applies to energy hubs in the Netherlands.

How it's scored

Applications are not scored against weighted criteria. They are assessed for completeness and for meeting the scheme conditions, and are handled in order of receipt. If the budget is insufficient, RVO conducts a lottery (loting) to allocate funding. Applicants receive a decision letter from 1 January 2027. Incomplete applications are not processed. The published text does not describe a panel or weighting.

Key requirements

• ✓Applicant must be an enterprise with a large electricity connection
• ✓Project must set up or expand an energy hub together with other companies
• ✓Applications accepted from 1 October 2026 to 1 May 2027

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) offer?

Onderzoek Energiehubs (EHUB) offers $5,500 – $46K.

When is the Onderzoek Energiehubs (EHUB) deadline?

Applications close 1 May 2027 15:00.

Who can apply for Onderzoek Energiehubs (EHUB)?

Eligibility covers organisations in NL; large-company, sme, consortium. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Grid modernisation covers transmission, distribution, smart meters, interconnectors and the software that balances a network with more variable supply. Funding comes as innovation calls for network operators and suppliers as well as large public tenders for equipment and works. Applicants are usually asked to show technical readiness and experience working with regulated network companies.