European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition

The European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition is developing a platform for EU countries, financial institutions and the Commission to collaborate on energy efficiency financing. Through dialogue, cooperation and experience sharing, the Coalition will develop concrete actions and initiatives for energy efficiency financing over the coming years.

The objectives of the Coalition are to create a favourable market environment for energy efficiency investments and to scale up the private financing needed in energy efficiency to help achieve the EU’s energy and climate targets for 2030 and 2050.

Its work includes

• facilitating the implementation of energy efficiency blended solutions, financial instruments and schemes under EU funding programmes
• promoting these programmes to foster and facilitate further private investment in energy efficiency projects
• discussing and sharing financial best practises for energy efficiency with the goal to increase the offer of dedicated products available in the market, and making financial support more efficient, simpler and better targeted to the needs of citizens and businesses

The Coalition’s work aligns with the objectives of the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, thus supporting EU countries to implement these rules at national level. 

The Coalition is organised in three layers and it is supported by a Secretariat.

General Assembly

The General Assembly includes high-level representation from all Coalition members and is chaired by the Commission.

Expert Platform

The Expert Platform will be constituted of working groups, which include highly qualified experts from the Coalition’s membership base, appointed to deal with priority topics stemming from the General Assembly.

National hubs

The hubs represent the Coalition in each national market. EU countries will decide on a specific mandate on energy efficiency financing for its national hub, and will identify the national entity that will be responsible for the management of that work. This means that each country is primarily responsible for the functioning and tasks of its hub, and will benefit from the assistance of the Commission and the Secretariat.

The Secretariat

The Secretariat – based in Brussels – supports the work of the Coalition by providing administrative and professional assistance to the structure. At national level, the Secretariat will provide EU countries with specific country expertise, to assist the hubs to fulfil their mandates.

It also helps to improve the understanding of the benefits and risks of energy efficiency investments through the maintenance and expansion of the DEEP platform, an integral tool of the Coalition.

Origins of the Coalition 

On 19 December 2023, EU countries and the Commission took the first step towards the Coalition by signing a Joint Declaration on energy efficiency financing and the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition, underlining the importance of mobilising private investment for energy efficiency and creating a long-term, viable funding framework for such investments.

The Coalition was announced in the EU ‘Save Energy’ Communication (COM/2022/240), as part of the REPowerEU plan. It stated that the Commission, in cooperation with EU Member States, would continue to strengthen the work of the successful Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group, with a view to transforming it into a high-level coalition. The need to step up investments in energy efficiency was further underlined in the European Council conclusions of 20-21 October 2022, and 15 December 2022.

The Coalition was officially launched in Brussels in a high-level event hosted by Commissioner Simson on 22 April 2024. The recording of the session is available here. 

Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group

The Coalition builds on the experience and results of the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG), created by the Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) in 2013. EEFIG served as a joint platform for cooperation and dialogue with financial institutions on energy efficiency and provided the Commission with concrete studies and recommendations on the way forward for energy efficiency financing. UNEP FI remains a privileged partner of the Coalition.

Publications produced by EEFIG Working Groups.

Sustainable Energy Investment Forums

The Sustainable Energy Investment Forums (SEI Forums) initiative (2017-2023) was part of the European Commission’s efforts to

• activate private-sector investments
• enhance access to finance for energy efficiency projects
• help replicate and scale up best practices and innovative approaches

It supported both the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings initiative and the Renovation Wave strategy. The SEI Forum initiative cooperated closely with the Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group. Between 2017 and 2023, regular SEI Forum events, including conferences, national roundtables and webinars, were organised across Europe and online. 

The Coalition is managed by unit B2 in DG Energy. If you have questions, address them to ENER-EEEFIN-COALITIONec [dot] europa [dot] eu (ENER-EEEFIN-COALITION[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

• Statement of Intent Coalition

• Recommendation on transposing Article 30 on national energy efficiency funds, financing and technical support of the recast Energy Efficiency Directive (C/2023/8558)
• Energy efficiency directive - European Commission
• REPowerEU Plan
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
• Sustainable Energy Investment Forums
• The Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group (EEFIG - archived website)