Energy efficiency financing
Commercial financing for proven EU energy-efficiency, renewable-energy and clean urban-transport projects with a direct or indirect municipal link.
Questa opportunità è attualmente disponibile in inglese.
The fund can provide loans, mezzanine finance, leasing or equity. With equity, the fund invests in return for an ownership stake. Mezzanine finance combines features of a loan and an ownership investment and takes more risk than an ordinary senior loan.
Eligible work includes energy upgrades to public or private buildings, efficient combined heat and power or district energy, street lighting, smart grids, local renewable generation, storage and cleaner public transport. The support is offered on commercial terms. It is not a grant, and the fund does not offer subsidised interest rates.
Eligibility
- The project must be in an EU Member State and have a direct or indirect municipal link. A municipality, local or regional authority can participate directly; a utility, energy service company, public-transport operator, social-housing association or another public or private entity can qualify when acting for an authority, for example under a long-term contract.
- An energy-efficiency project must normally save at least 30% of primary energy, meaning energy measured before conversion and distribution losses. Buildings require a higher saving. A transport project targets at least a 30% reduction in carbon-dioxide emissions, and the application must show its calculation method and assumptions.
- Only commercially proven technology qualifies. Research and development and private household projects are excluded, except that social housing can qualify for direct investment.
- The fund's direct investments are generally in the €5 million to €25 million range. A larger total project can qualify through co-investment. Combining this finance with another EU programme subsidy is normally not allowed unless separate project phases and costs can be clearly divided.
- The fund cannot refinance an existing obligation or finance a project that is already implemented and financed. It can, however, finance a distinct later phase when the project can be divided into separate phases.
How to apply
- Stato
- Aperto continuamente
Email a project description, financial model and available technical and environmental details to info@eeef.eu for initial screening. There is no application form or deadline. A positive screening leads to a detailed financial, legal, technical, environmental and social review before the fund's Investment Committee decides.