Warmtenetten Investeringssubsidie (WIS) Grant

About this grant

The Warmtenetten Investeringssubsidie (WIS) is a Dutch national subsidy from the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) that supports investment in new or extended energy-efficient district heating networks (warmtenetten). It aims to help replace natural gas in existing homes and buildings by funding heat networks that can start quickly, reduce gas use, and supply heat to the expected future demand of the project area. To qualify, the network must emit no more than 25 kg CO2 per gigajoule of delivered heat at project completion, must deliver heat to at least 250 small-consumer connections (up to 100 kW) spread across at least five buildings in existing buildings, and must be able to meet future heat demand across the project area. Projects must be completed within seven years. The subsidy covers up to 30% of eligible investment costs (with a 10 or 20 percentage-point uplift for SMEs), or covers the financial shortfall (onrendabele top) subject to maximum amounts per connection for distribution and primary networks. Applicants must submit a complete application including a project plan, milestone budget, financing plan, design drawings, operating cost model, sustainability report, and evidence of stakeholder agreements. Applications are assessed in order of receipt. Projects must not start before application, and must demonstrate that the subsidy has a stimulating effect. Applications are rejected for incomplete files, insufficient financing confidence, technical or legal infeasibility, or failure to meet state aid rules.

Eligibility

Applicants must be the party investing at their own cost and risk in the heat network, such as a heat cooperative, a heat company, or an enterprise active in heat infrastructure. Municipalities cannot apply directly, but municipal heat companies or other heat companies in which a municipality participates can apply, and energy cooperatives investing in a heat network may also apply. Only the investor in the heat network may apply, so project BVs or SPVs are eligible only if they are the investor. Intermediaries may be authorised to submit on the applicant's behalf. Applicants must not be undertakings in difficulty under the AGVV. Projects must not be split artificially to avoid thresholds. The application window runs from 1 August 2025 09:00 to 30 November 2026 17:00 (Dutch time). Geographic scope is the Netherlands.

How it's scored

Applications are assessed in order of receipt and only once complete. Assessment covers project plan quality and feasibility, risk management, execution capability, financing realism and need for subsidy (including stimulating effect), stakeholder and supply-chain agreements, alignment with municipal heat transition plans, sustainability emissions compliance, the operating cost model and tariffs, and compliance with state aid rules. Financing must be credible and the applicant must show own contribution. No numeric weightings are stated on the page.

Key requirements

• ✓Applicant must be an entrepreneur ready to start heat network construction quickly
• ✓Project must supply existing homes to replace natural gas heating (aardgasvrij)
• ✓Applications must be submitted between 1 August 2025 and 30 November 2026

Frequently asked questions

When is the Warmtenetten Investeringssubsidie (WIS) deadline?

Applications close 30 Nov 2026 16:00.

Who can apply for Warmtenetten Investeringssubsidie (WIS)?

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

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Heating and cooling funding supports heat pumps, district heating, thermal networks, efficient cooling and the removal of fossil boilers. It arrives through national support schemes, local authority programmes and procurement for heat networks. Applicants typically need heat demand assessments, a connection plan and an operator for the system.