European Investment Bank Launching Financing Platform for Energy Efficiency

Why It Matters

Accelerating SME energy efficiency cuts emissions and operating costs, strengthening the EU’s climate goals and economic resilience. The co‑financing model also unlocks private capital, amplifying the impact of public funds.

Key Takeaways

• EIB commits €60 million to Solas Sustainable Energy Fund II
• Platform targets €400 million total financing for SME projects
• Energy‑as‑a‑service model shifts capex to operational expenses
• EIB aims €17.5 billion for 350k SMEs by 2027
• 2025 financing reached €6 billion, doubling 2024 levels

Pulse Analysis

European policymakers have long recognised that small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises are the backbone of the continent’s carbon‑reduction agenda. The European Investment Bank’s €60 million injection into Solas Capital’s second Sustainable Energy Fund creates a dedicated pipeline for energy‑efficiency upgrades, aligning with the EU’s 2030 climate targets and the Green Deal’s emphasis on decarbonising the built environment. By aggregating demand across dozens of jurisdictions, the platform can achieve scale that individual firms could not reach on their own, fostering a more resilient and competitive SME sector.

The “energy‑as‑a‑service” (EaaS) model underpinning the new platform transforms traditional capital‑intensive purchases into subscription‑style contracts. This shift reduces upfront barriers for SMEs, allowing them to adopt high‑efficiency lighting, heat pumps, rooftop solar and EV‑charging infrastructure without large balance‑sheet outlays. For investors, the model offers asset‑backed cash flows tied to measurable energy savings, mitigating risk and attracting private‑sector capital that complements public funding. The expected €400 million total mobilization demonstrates how blended finance can unlock far more resources than public money alone.

Looking ahead, the initiative dovetails with the EIB Group’s broader €17.5 billion commitment to finance 350,000 SMEs by 2027, positioning Europe to meet both energy security and climate objectives. Successful deployment will likely spur ancillary markets—such as energy‑service companies, data analytics for performance monitoring, and financing platforms—creating jobs and fostering innovation. However, scaling will require harmonised regulatory frameworks and robust verification standards to ensure that reported savings translate into real‑world emissions reductions. If these challenges are addressed, the platform could become a template for climate‑focused financing worldwide.

European Investment Bank Launching Financing Platform for Energy Efficiency

Contributed Content · Wednesday, February 11 2026

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is intensifying efforts to spur energy savings by businesses across Europe with a €60 million ($71.1 million) commitment to launch a financing platform run by Solas Capital, an energy‑transition investment advisor. The EIB will invest the sum into Solas Capital’s successor fund, Solas Sustainable Energy Fund II (SSEF II), to advance energy‑efficiency projects by small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs), which the group calls the backbone of the European economy.

The platform will expand the European Union’s energy‑efficiency services market with the goal of making SMEs more competitive and greener by reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint. The co‑financing platform is projected to mobilize almost €400 million ($474 million)—including private‑sector capital—for the deployment of technologies such as LED lighting, insulation, heat pumps, rooftop solar systems and electric‑vehicle charging stations across several EU countries.

“We are helping deliver real impact through energy efficiency as a service,” said Ambroise Fayolle, EIB vice‑president. “The result will be lower energy bills for companies and a stronger European economy.”

“We are pleased to deepen our partnership with the EIB, demonstrating how building decarbonisation infrastructure is a crucial pillar of the energy transition,” said Sebastian Carneiro, CEO and co‑founder of Solas Capital. “Thanks to the €60 million co‑investment from the EIB alongside SSEF II, we can unlock much‑needed infrastructure investments for energy‑efficiency projects—especially for SMEs—and build upon the strong relationships established by the predecessor fund, all the while contributing to European competitiveness and energy security.”

The new co‑financing platform follows a €30 million ($36 million) EIB commitment in 2022 to Solas Sustainable Energy Fund (SSEF), a €220 million ($261 million) energy‑efficiency debt fund advised by Solas Capital. The partnership will continue expanding “energy as a service” financing offerings, a model in which firms shift from buying physical equipment to purchasing fixed energy services. This approach enables SMEs and other eligible beneficiaries to access proven, cutting‑edge technologies that achieve instant and measurable energy savings. In turn, investors benefit from asset‑backed, contracted cash flows, diversifying energy‑infrastructure portfolios while advancing Europe’s energy‑transition priorities.

The new platform was inaugurated at a signing ceremony held February 11 in Luxembourg. The event brought together partner banks and other stakeholders to discuss the green‑intermediated financing and advisory products of the EIB Group, which includes the European Investment Fund (EIF).

EIB Group Energy Efficiency for SMEs Initiative

The platform is the latest project under a broader initiative announced last year called the “EIB Group Energy Efficiency for SMEs Initiative.” Led by the EIB Group and supported by the European Commission, the initiative seeks to help SMEs use proven energy‑saving technologies to lower their energy bills and boost their resilience and competitiveness. In the three years through 2027, the EIB Group aims to provide €17.5 billion ($20.8 billion) in financing for up to 350,000 SMEs in Europe to reduce their energy costs and carbon footprint.

Another partner supporting the initiative is the Solar Impulse Foundation, a nonprofit organization championing “servitization”—energy efficiency as a service—first announced at COP29 in 2024.

The initiative is on track to surpass its targets, having delivered €6 billion ($7.1 billion) in financing in 2025—double the amount provided in 2024—enabling up to 150,000 SMEs across Europe to invest in energy‑efficiency and decarbonisation projects in the program’s first year.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 member states, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world. Solas Capital is the European specialist in building and industrial decarbonisation infrastructure investments. The company addresses a crucial pillar of the energy transition—energy efficiency and behind‑the‑meter projects—by providing tailor‑made project‑finance solutions to energy‑service companies.

—This content was contributed by the European Investment Bank.