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UniCredit Bank Serbia, in partnership with the German development bank KfW, has launched a €43 million financing programme to support energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy projects across Serbia. The initiative aims to expand access to sustainable financing for businesses and parts of the public sector while supporting the country's transition towards a low-carbon economy.
The financing programme forms part of the Low Carbon Energy Facility, which has a total value of €47.3 million. It is funded through a €43 million loan from KfW, complemented by €4.3 million in EU grants under the Western Balkans Regional Energy Efficiency Programme.
The funding will support projects that improve energy efficiency, install rooftop solar systems on commercial and warehouse buildings, and encourage the adoption of low-carbon energy solutions, including biomass and biogas.
The programme is available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as companies with up to 1,000 employees. Businesses can access financing of up to €1 million per borrower, together with a grant covering 10% of the loan value. With KfW approval, financing can increase to as much as €3 million per client.
Around 300 companies are expected to benefit from the initiative. Based on similar programmes, the financing is projected to reduce annual energy consumption by approximately 34,000 megawatt-hours while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 24,000 tonnes each year.
The programme highlights the growing role of financial institutions in accelerating the energy transition across Southeast Europe. By combining commercial lending with international development finance and EU grant support, the initiative lowers investment barriers for businesses adopting cleaner technologies. For the region's energy sector, expanding access to sustainable finance can help accelerate renewable energy deployment, improve energy efficiency and strengthen long-term energy resilience.
