September 28 (SeeNews) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Tuesday it plans to expand the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in the Western Balkans in 2022, after investing some 45 million euro ($52.6 million) in household energy efficiency improvements in the region through the programme.
The EBRD intends to expand GEFF following the successful regional roll-out of the programme and the growing interest in energy efficiency financing, it said in a statement.
In less than four years, over 9,000 households in the Western Balkans have invested in energy-saving technologies such as insulation, heat pumps, new windows or solar panels through the facility, leading to a reduction of CO2 emissions by more than 12,000 tonnes per year, the EBRD noted.
GEFF is a 135 million euro programme co-financed by the EU, he Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance, and bilateral donors to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). It is implemented n partnership with the Energy Community Secretariat under the umbrella of the Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the Western Balkans (REEP Plus).
Households in the Western Balkans can benefit from funding through specialised credit lines at local partner financial institutions. After completing their investment, they also receive a grant incentive worth up to 20% of the loan amount, which is funded by the EU. So far, the EU has contributed 27 million euro to the programme.
($ = 0.8560 euro)