Faced with uncertainty, Basque industry is committed to smart decarbonisation in order to increase competitiveness and safety through Deskarboniza 2025

08/05/2025

Deskarboniza is a plan based on inter-institutional collaboration, which brings together different aid programmes from the Basque Government, as well as tax relief from the Provincial Councils in order to promote the smart decarbonisation of industry in the Basque Country.

With direct aid of €400 million over the course of the legislature, it seeks to mobilise up to €1.2 billion of public-private investment to boost the decarbonisation of Basque industry and increase competitiveness in a context of commercial uncertainty. It is a commitment to the differentiation of our industry's products and services through their decarbonisation.

The main objectives of this plan are to increase the energy efficiency of our industry - the best energy is that which is not consumed, self-consumption - to improve electricity security - and the commitment to clean technologies - as a differentiating factor.

An example of this commitment to self-consumption is BEC SOLAR and BEC OSAKIDETZA, with a total investment of €6.4 million in photovoltaic electricity generation and battery storage. In this way, electricity is generated for use by the BEC, and also for the Cruces Hospital, promoted by EVE, which will mean a level of self-consumption of close to 25% in both facilities.

Deskarboniza places the Basque Country at the forefront of Europe, with one of the most complete and advanced programmes in the EU, due to its commitment to the energy mix and technological neutrality, promoting both electrification and other clean technologies, such as green hydrogen.

In terms of tax relief, up to 35% will be available for investments in decarbonisation and environmental sustainability, which promote sustainable development, the circular economy, the reduction of environmental impact and the energy transition by means of deductions for a wide range of technologies.

Our industry will be able to save up to 68% of its investments in decarbonising its processes and products through the implementation of electricity self-consumption facilities, in order to increase competitiveness. With a special focus on helping our SMEs through aid programmes, with an average subsidy of 23% for large companies, 28% for medium-sized companies and 33% for small companies. An additional 35% tax relief would also be added for all companies

Deskarboniza 2025 was presented this morning. It is a plan based on inter-institutional collaboration that brings together different aid programmes from the Basque Government, as well as tax relief recently approved by the General Assemblies in Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, in order to promote the smart decarbonisation of industry in the Basque Country. The presentation, held at the BEC in Barakaldo, was attended by the Basque Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, and the three Provincial Councillors for Economic Promotion: Saray Zárate from Alava, Ainara Basurko from Bizkaia and Unai Andueza from Gipuzkoa.

They were joined by the Basque Deputy Minister for Energy Transition, Irantzu Allende, the General Directors of SPRI, Jon Ansoleaga; Ihobe, Alexander Boto; and EVE, Mikel Amundarain, as well as Xabier Ibarzabal, Economic-Financial Director of Osakidetza, and Xabier Basañez, General Manager of Bilbao Exhibition Centre.

Deskarboniza includes different Basque Government aid programmes with a budget of €400 million. This will leverage an investment of €1.2 billion over the course of the legislature to decarbonise our industry and make it more competitive. The main objectives of this plan are to increase the energy efficiency of our industry - to improve electricity security - and the commitment to clean technologies - as a differentiating factor.

The two main programmes are aimed at industrial decarbonisation (€100 M) and self-consumption (€160 M), although other programmes are also included with €40 M for sustainable mobility, energy audits and the circular economy, as well as a €100 M zero-interest loans for public administrations.

In terms of self-consumption, the Basque Country has 150 MW of installed capacity to date and plans to triple this amount to 450 MW over four years. In this way, we would be among the most advanced countries in the European Union by 2030 in terms of commitment to self-consumption.

The presentation began on the roof of the BEC, where the self-consumption photovoltaic installation was visited, with the collaboration of EVE - Ente Vasco de la Energía (Basque Energy Agency). 

On the one hand, BEC SOLAR, led by the BEC and EVE, aimed at covering part of the electricity consumption of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, which has been deployed in two phases, with a third phase to be started in 2025, which would increase power to 2.68 MW and install a battery system, covering 25% of the BEC's demand. Both initiatives, the photovoltaic plant and the future battery system, have European funding through the LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 project, the largest climate action project in the Basque Country. On the other hand, OSAKIDETZA BEC, an initiative led by Osakidetza with the technical collaboration of EVE, which will have 4.9 MW of power to supply up to a quarter of the demand of a critical facility such as the nearby Cruces Hospital. This installation contributes to increased safety and electrical resilience for the largest sanitary installation in the Basque Country.

Aid programmes and tax relief

The different aid programmes and services for the decarbonisation of industry, public administrations and households can be consulted on the website spri.eus/deskarboniza- where more information can be requested. The aid programmes are distributed as follows:

• €160 M Self-consumption
• €100 M Industrial decarbonisation
• €100 M Zero-interest loans for energy efficiency and renewable energies
• €23.7 M Sustainable mobility (Low Emission Vehicles + MOVES)
• €10 M Comprehensive studies and audits in SMEs and Administration
• €6 M Innovation in the circular economy

Furthermore, in the services section, Deskarboniza includes the tax relief of the Provincial Councils through which up to 35% can be deducted for investments in decarbonisation and environmental sustainability. All of the investments included in the Basque List of Clean Technologies are subject to these deductions. These investments will boost sustainable development, the circular economy, the reduction of environmental impact and the energy transition through tax relief for a wide range of technologies.

Industry in the Basque Country will be able to save up to 68% of its investment in decarbonising its processes and products through the implementation of self-consumption electricity installations, in order to increase competitiveness. With a special focus on helping our SMEs through aid programmes, with an average subsidy of 23% for large companies, 28% for medium-sized companies and 33% for small companies. An additional 35% tax relief would also be added for all companies

By means of example: an average industrial company, on the roof of which a photovoltaic system can be installed with an associated investment of €500,000. This installation would produce between 10% and 15% of the company's total annual electricity consumption each year. Thanks to the aid contemplated in Deskarboniza, this action could receive aid of 28% of the investment, as well as 35% tax relief. In total, the company would achieve a financial saving of €320,000, which means that it only has to pay for 37% of the investment.

A quantum leap to drive smart decarbonisation

"The main objectives of Deskarboniza are to increase energy efficiency - the best energy is that which is not consumed -, self-consumption - as a guarantee of supply for greater resilience - and a commitment to clean technologies -as a differentiating factor -", detailed the the Basque Minister, Mikel Jauregi. "We are presenting an ambitious programme, which places the Basque Country at the forefront of Europe, with one of the most complete and advanced programmes in the EU, making a firm commitment to technological neutrality. We believe in smart decarbonisation, advancing in the energy transition and gaining in competitiveness; with an energy mix that involves electrification, but also includes other clean technologies, such as green hydrogen".

Aid from Deskarboniza is complementary to other existing aid for decarbonisation from the three Provincial Councils.

The Provincial Councillor for Alava, Saray Zárate, stated that "the challenge of decarbonisation is the great challenge facing industry in Alava, and we are therefore making progress on a roadmap that will enable us to accompany companies in their energy transition. Our aim is to create a great decarbonisation alliance in Alava that will help us on this path. We are working on a line of aid, which will exceed €2 million, in order to provide our companies with innovative solutions and technologies that will help their transition processes towards a low-carbon economy".

After stating that "decarbonisation is an opportunity to position our industry at the forefront of the energy transition", the Provincial Councillor for Bizkaia, Ainara Basurko, added that "opting for clean energies lowers the price of energy, which increases the competitiveness of industry and makes Bizkaia and the Basque Country an attractive territory for investment and production". "We want industrial and advanced services companies in Bizkaia to have access to aid and conditions that facilitate their transition towards a more sustainable production model. For this reason, this year we are allocating €1.6 million to the second call of the Green Transition Programme, in addition to the funding opportunities opened up by the recently approved tax review to boost decarbonisation and increase the competitiveness of companies". "Deploying decarbonisation is our way of addressing the climate crisis, boosting the competitiveness of industry, ensuring resilience and attracting and retaining talent," she said.

Finally, the Provincial Councillor for Gipuzkoa, Unai Andueza, stated that "Gipuzkoa is fully aligned with the objectives of the Deskarboniza plan, an initiative that is structured around two essential axes to face current and future challenges: competitiveness and energy sustainability". In this regard, he highlighted that the region is also promoting its own strategic projects, such as MUBIL, as well as a new line of aid aimed at increasing industrial competitiveness through the application of environmental sustainability criteria in companies. "MUBIL is a pioneering centre that places Gipuzkoa and the Basque Country at the forefront of sustainable mobility in Europe. It is a transformational project that combines sustainability, innovation and skilled employment, and which will be key to consolidating a new strategic sector that will strengthen the role of the Basque Country in Europe", said Andueza. Furthermore, he announced the launch of a €1.5 million aid programme to support companies from Gipuzkoa in their decarbonisation processes, "thus reaffirming our commitment to a more competitive, resilient and responsible economy".

Need to strengthen electricity grids

As Mikel Jauregi explained, “last week we saw how the blackout revealed our vulnerability. With the Deskarboniza programme, we are taking steps to become more energy independent and autonomous. However, it is not enough. We still need to invest more in electricity grids and develop our own renewable energy through photovoltaic and wind power plants”.

"The Basque Government has been working intensely for a long time at all levels - both with the Ministry and with Red Eléctrica - to set out the necessary investments in the Basque electricity grid. This is essential in order to decarbonise our existing industry, deal with the growth of our companies and attract new industry," the Basque Minister concluded.