Who can apply?
Grants can be given to public and private actors, such as municipalities, water authorities, property owners, associations and companies.
What can you apply for?
Grants for measures that reduce emissions of microplastics and other pollutants via stormwater.
Application period and decision date
The last day to apply is 19 March 2021. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency plans to announce a decision on grants during week 25.
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Purpose of the grant — reduction in storm water emissions
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with distributing grants until 2023 to implement measures aimed at improving the aquatic environment. 175 million SEK may be used for, among other measurements, grants for stormwater measures that minimize microplastics and other pollution via stormwater. It can also be used for the implementation of advanced treatment for the separation of drug residues at sewage treatment plants.
The grant is distributed on the basis of ordinance (2018:496) on state support to reduce emissions of microplastics to the aquatic environment.
The purpose of the ordinance is to contribute to achieving the environmental quality objectives, Sea in balance and living coast and archipelago, Non-toxic environment, Living lakes and watercourses and Groundwater of good quality.
Who can apply for grants and for what purpose?
Actors who can apply for the grant:
- Grants can be given to public and private actors, such as municipalities, water authorities, property owners, associations and companies.
Grants are not given to:
- private individuals,
- measures initiated before a grant decision is taken,
- supervision of students,
- information efforts or marketing,
- investments for educational purposes.
See regulation (2018: 496) for more information.
What can you apply for?
The Swedish EPA may provide grants for:
- Investments in technology or other measures aimed at purifying stormwater from microplastics and other pollutants,
- or which otherwise reduces the spread of microplastics and other pollutants via stormwater.
- Grants may be given for feasibility studies and other preparatory measures required for an intended concrete measure.
In addition to traditional solutions, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is happy to see applications that contribute to development in the area: reduced spread of microplastic to stormwater, purification of microplastic in stormwater and which in addition to the purpose of the call contributes to additional environmental values.
Investment projects can include the entire process from feasibility study, procurement, implementation of contract, commissioning and evaluation. For investment in the facility, a maintenance and maintenance plan is required.
Preliminary study projects include the preparation of a basis for an intended concrete measure. For feasibility study projects, a timetable is planned for the planned implementation of a concrete measure.
The earliest project start is after a decision has been made on the grant awarded. The decisions are planned to be made by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency no later than week 25.
Application process
Grant applications are to be submitted to the Swedish EPA using the application form and project calculation, which includes:
- Information on the applicant and contact person for the applicant.
- A description of the measures, the place of the measures and the financing, implementation and timetable of the measures.
- A project calculation, broken down by sub-projects, containing the costs of implementing the measure and the percentage of the costs covered by the applied for grants. The project calculation submitted is to be supplemented in the final reporting of the approved grant project by a financial final account.
- An estimate of how much emissions of microplastics and other pollutants to the aquatic environment can be expected to decrease due to the measure.
- Information on the evaluation of the measures envisaged by the applicant and how the applicant can meet the requirement for dissemination of relevant knowledge.
- A disclosure of other grants that the applicant or other party has applied for or that have been awarded and that concern the same eligible costs as those in the application.
Application documents to download
Fill in the two templates below, application form and summary spreadsheet with project budget and schedule.
If the application refers to de minimis aid for companies, the application must also contain an account of all other aid of minor importance, which the applicant has received during the two previous tax years and the current tax year.
Attach the following three mandatory documents as numbered attachments:
- Project description (.docx, maximum 5 pages).
- Communication plan: A plan for how regular information about the project, results, experiences and lessons will be disseminated to external parties, such as industry, policy makers and the public (.docx, no more than 3 pages).
- CV for project managers and other key individuals (single document with all CVs, .docx or .PDF).
- Any necessary annexes to verify stated information in the application (maximum 5 pages).
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's time for assessing applications is limited. Any other attached appendices will only be read and included in the assessment if time permits.
Apply by email
Send the application, with the subject line "Application for stormwater subsidy 2021 [name of applicant organization]", via e-mail to
Financial accounting and reporting
Grant-approved measures must be carried out and financial statements, progress reports and final reports must have been received by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency no later than the dates stated in the decision.
Criteria for assessing the application
When assessing applications, the Swedish EPA considers such factors as:
Potential:
- The effectiveness of the measure in terms of the calculated/estimated amount of emissions of microplastics and other pollutants that the measure can capture/prevent.
- The sensitivity of the receiving aquatic environment and the environmental benefit of the installation for the receiving aquatic environment.
- The solution’s cost effectiveness, based on site-specific conditions.
If the above criteria are considered equivalent, the Swedish EPA may also consider the ability of measures to contribute to the introduction and dissemination of new technologies and the effects of the measures on other environmental quality objectives.
Implementation:
- The budget, plan and approach for implementing the project are credible and relevant.
- Access to funding, skills and the network needed to implement the project.
Grant levels
Grants can cover up to 90 per cent of the cost of eligible measures.
When calculating the cost of a measure, any grants awarded under another ordinance will be deducted. A grant that is awarded may be paid in instalments.
For companies and organisations — other rules
For companies and organisations engaged in economic activities and subject to state aid rules, other rules apply. Grants for investments in technology or in other measures aimed at treating storm water to capture microplastics and other pollutants may be awarded at a maximum of the following percentage of the cost of eligible measures:
- Large companies: 40 per cent.
- Midsize companies: 50 per cent
- Small companies: 60 per cent.
Grants for preliminary studies may be at a maximum of the following percentage of the cost of eligible measures:
- Large companies: 45 per cent.
- Midsize companies: 60 per cent.
- Small companies: 70 percent.
Grants to companies for lower amounts, known as “de minimis aid”, can be made for up to 90 per cent of the costs in this call for proposals.
The minimis aid may not exceed €200,000 for a period of three fiscal years (the current fiscal year and the two previous ones). For companies operating in the road transport sector, the ceiling is €100,000 for three fiscal years. If a company is part of a group, the cap (€200,000/€100,000) applies to the whole group.
Company size is defined as follows:
- Small businesses employing fewer than 50 people and having turnover or a balance sheet total not exceeding €10 million per year.
- Medium-sized enterprises employing fewer than 250 people and having turnover not exceeding €50 million or a balance sheet total not exceeding €43 million per year.
- Large companies exceeding the above stated values.
Repayment obligation
The Swedish EPA may require repayment of funds disbursed if:
- The grant is awarded based on incorrect information from the grant recipient.
- Measures undertaken are not carried out or deviate from those specified in the application, unless otherwise agreed.
- The financial accounting and final report have not been received by the Swedish EPA by the date specified in the decision.
- Funds granted are not used by the time of the final account.
More information
For questions about the grant
For other questions
Customer Service, phone +46 (0)10-6981000, or
