Last week, we had the honour to participate in the C4E Forum 2025 in Cavtat, Croatia, hosting the panel discussion “Smart Financing Solutions for Energy Efficiency”.
The session was led by Alice Corovessi, Managing Director, INZEB and was joined by an outstanding group of experts – Adrien Bullier, Cinea – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, Aniko Dozi-Rozsa and Adrian Balaci (GESB), Horia Petran, Asociatia Cluster Pro-nZEB, and Dragomir Tzanev, EnEffect, Center for Energy Efficiency, offering space for a fruitful exchange of ideas and vivid discussion on how to utilise the full potential of financing mechanisms to promote deep renovation across Central and Eastern Europe.
The need for strategic use of public funds was presented as a way to minimise the risk of private investments. One-stop shops were showcased as a mean to make the financing and technical support simpler and more accessible. The adoption of blended financing models was suggested to lower bank risk aversion and support groups with limited funding. The need to provide income-based grants for renovations was discussed, with 100% financing for vulnerable households. Simplified procedures and standardised documentation, as well as better alignment with EU tools, were identified as essential to making energy-efficiency financing banking user-friendly. Moreover, aligning solid technical analysis with financial decisions will build trust and increase renovation activity.
The panel highlighted the importance of designing inclusive, accessible, and scalable systems that can truly accelerate the Renovation Wave in Europe and support the effective implementation of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), particularly regarding deep renovation, financing mechanisms, and the renovation of the worst-performing buildings.