What Does the Instrument Represent?

The program offers enterprises applying for financing with a project and business plan related to energy efficiency and circular production models the opportunity to benefit from guarantee coverage and non-repayable financial support in two directions:

  • Technical support – up to EUR 15,000 for an energy audit/conceptual design and for subsequent inspection of the implementation of prescribed measures and/or achieved energy savings levels.

  • Capital rebate – amounting to 15% of the total eligible financing upon achievement of project objectives.

Advantages

 

  • Easier access to financing
  • Possibility for non-repayable financial support
  • Relieved collateral requirements
  • Preferential pricing conditions
  • No guarantee fee
  • Support for resource and energy-efficient economy 
     
Online brochure

Characteristics 
 

  • Types of financing: newly granted investment, revolving, and standard working capital loans with repayment schedule
  • Maximum amount: up to EUR 3.8 million, depending on eligible costs, enterprise size, and state/minimal aid used
  • Currency: EUR
  • Financing term: up to 120 months
  • Grace period for principal: up to 24 months
  • Deadline for inclusion and utilization: 31.12.2029
     

 

Eligible final beneficiaries 

The financial instrument for circular economy is intended for enterprises planning investments in sustainable solutions and circular production models:

  • For Energy Efficiency: Small, medium, and large enterprises

  • For Resource Efficiency: Small or medium enterprises (average employees up to 249; net sales revenue up to EUR 50 million; asset value up to EUR 84 million


Eligible projects – Energy Efficiency 

Investments based on recommendations from energy efficiency audits of:

  • Industrial systems (incl. machinery, equipment, and/or industrial/production/commercial buildings);
  • Enterprises, administrative, commercial, and other non-production buildings, including activities related to:            

  

  • Implementation and certification of energy management or monitoring and control systems, as well as consulting services and auxiliary materials for their implementation;
  • Acquisition/commissioning of systems/measures for using electricity, heat, and energy for heating and cooling and/or production of electricity from renewable sources (RES) for own consumption, incl. storage systems;
  • Acquisition/commissioning of machinery, equipment, and facilities representing tangible fixed assets;
  • Acquisition/implementation of intangible fixed assets (including software development);
  • Construction works on production buildings and/or related to energy efficiency measures;
  • Improvement/modernization of operations – regarding technologies, production processes, and delivery methods.    

Eligible investments must lead to a reduction in expected greenhouse gas emissions as a result of achieved energy savings (for RES only reduced emissions are counted).

*For RES, a conceptual or technical design by a licensed designer is required to assess necessary capacities, installation area, and structural reinforcements, with costs eligible for coverage under Technical Support.


Eligible projects – Resource Efficiency    

Investments for introducing circular models in product consumption, production processes, business models, or waste management aimed at permanently reducing resource intensity and leading to:



 

  • More efficient use of natural resources in production, including water;
  • Reduction of primary raw material use and increased use of secondary raw materials;
  • Improved recycling of products and materials through substitution of non-recyclable components and pre-treatment of waste;
  • Reduction of hazardous substances in materials and products throughout their life cycle, including substitution with safer alternatives;
  • Extended product use, including reuse, design for durability, repurposing, disassembly, reprocessing, modernization, repair, and sharing;
  • Prevention and reduction of waste (reuse, recycling; modernization of wastewater treatment technologies) in extraction, processing, production, and distribution of food, minerals, construction and demolition waste;
  • Minimization of waste incineration and disposal, including landfilling;
  • Use of renewable energy for own consumption (based on a conceptual or technical design).
     

Non-eligible activities/projects/costs

  • Energy efficiency of administrative/commercial and other non-production buildings not used by the borrower, as well as student dormitories and residential buildings; 
  • Transactions aimed at refinancing or restructuring existing loans; 
  • Financing of elements physically completed or fully implemented by the date of the investment decision; 
  • Decommissioning or construction of nuclear power plants; 
  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities listed in Annex I to Directive 2003/87/EC; 
  • Primary production of agricultural products and products from fisheries and aquaculture; 
  • Production, processing, and sale of tobacco and tobacco products; 
  • Airport infrastructure; 
  • Except for existing regional airports (Art. 2, item 153 of Regulation (EU) No 651/2014), for mitigating environmental impact or for air traffic safety/security systems; 
  • Waste disposal in landfills; 
  • Production, processing, transport, distribution, storage, or combustion of fossil fuels; 
  • Except for: Replacement of solid fuel heating systems with gas (incl. district systems, cogeneration, residential installations); retrofitting gas networks for renewable and low-carbon gases; investments in clean vehicles for civil protection and fire services; 
  • Production or trade of products or activities considered illegal under laws or international conventions and agreements; 
  • Any economic activity related to pornography or prostitution; weapons and ammunition; gambling, casinos, and equivalent enterprises; 
  • Production of distilled alcoholic beverages; 
  • Research and development or technical applications for programs or electronic data solutions supporting: excluded sectors; illegal penetration and/or extraction of electronic data; human cloning for scientific or therapeutic purposes; genetically modified organisms (GMOs); 
  • Purchase of land exceeding 10% of total eligible project costs or 15% for abandoned or previously industrial land/buildings; 
  • Recoverable VAT.

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