Poland—Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (Poland REFF)

Client: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Duration: 2016-2023

Region: Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Country: Poland

Solutions: Environment Climate

Poland is one of the most energy-intensive economies in Europe and the Polish government identified increased energy efficiency as one of its top priorities when developing the country’s long-term energy policy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) Polish Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility (Poland REFF) addresses this goal through a program of targeted loans to incentivize borrowing for household improvements that increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Over the course of the project, the ERBD will disperse €200 million through local banks in Poland to borrowers ranging from single-family households to commercial residential developers and property owners. DAI, as a subcontractor to the Polish Foundation for Energy Efficiency, provides technical assistance to support the implementation of the facility.

Poland REFF builds on the success of the DAI-led Polish Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (PolSEFF), which provided similar energy efficiency financing to small and medium enterprises.

Sample Activities

  • Promote the facility and support participating banks in their marketing efforts.
  • Develop tools to help prospective borrowers choose appropriate equipment and materials to purchase, such as a List of Recommended Sustainable Energy Technologies and an energy savings calculator.
  • Maintain an advisory helpline for borrowers.
  • Provide capacity building on energy-efficiency financing to participating banks.

Select Results

  • Created a €200 million credit facility to build the market for investments in sustainable energy in the residential sector in Poland.
  • Ensured that financial institutions became familiar with appraising and financing energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in the sector.
  • Increased awareness of potential borrowers of energy and resource-saving benefits.
  • Developed innovative List of Eligible Materials and Equipment to easily find energy-efficient products and materials, and giving materials suppliers the opportunity to register, bolstering demand for their businesses.
  • Won “Deal of the Year” at the Central and Eastern European Clean Energy Awards.
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