The Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) has set out the requirements for a new loan programme aimed at boosting corporate energy efficiency. Under this initiative, from 2026 onwards, HBOR will support not only projects that improve energy efficiency but also the installation of renewable power systems, primarily photovoltaic generators.
Partial loan forgiveness available
The programme offers low-interest loans, with the possibility of partial loan forgiveness ranging from 15 to 50 percent of the borrowed amount. To qualify, companies must meet specific requirements.
A total of €150 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has been allocated to the programme. Participating commercial banks are providing an additional €125 million, including Raiffeisenbank, OTB Bank, Erste Bank, Privredna banka Zagreb and Hrvatska poštanska banka.
Measures have to be sucessful
Small, medium and large enterprises in the manufacturing, trade and service sectors are eligible to apply. One key requirement is that the borrower must have a registered office in Croatia by the time the loan agreement is signed.
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For manufacturing companies, the supported measure must reduce energy consumption by at least 20 percent compared to a reference value. In the trade and service sectors, a 30 percent reduction is required for eligibility. For energy-efficient refurbishment of office buildings or production processes, energy consumption must be cut by 50 percent to qualify for loan support.
Co-financing by commercial banks
Companies can apply for up to €3 million in loans for energy-efficient refurbishment, conversion of production processes, or the installation of photovoltaic or other renewable energy systems. Each loan is financed equally by the ERDF and the participating commercial banks. If partial loan forgiveness is granted, this portion is fully covered by ERDF funds. No interest is charged on the ERDF-funded share, while the interest rate for the commercial bank portion is set through a tender process.
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The full loan terms are available on the HBOR website. (su)
