EENergy offers EUR 10,000 grants to SMEs for energy efficiency, Western Balkans also included

The EENergy project is offering grants for energy efficiency measures of up to EUR 10,000 to firms in countries participating in the European Union’s Single Market Program.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey are also eligible to apply.

The European Union’s Single Market Program (EU SMP) provides the funds. They are not subject to state aid rules, according to the call.

In total, EUR 2.29 million will be allocated amongst the funded beneficiaries. The first call was launched in February. The second one lasts until February 2, 2025.

The first open call attracted over 1,400 eligible applicants

Within the two calls, the project aims to support at least 1,800 SMEs including through EEN sustainability support services. Nine hundred of them will receive direct financial support as funded beneficiaries while the remaining selected SMEs (regular beneficiaries) will receive advisory services, the propositions show.

The first open call attracted over 1,400 eligible applicants. Funds were approved for 671 SMEs to implement energy efficiency activities. In the second one, at least 460 eligible SMEs are slated to become EENergy beneficiaries, with at least 229 SMEs to be selected for funding.

The current round’s focus is on firms in energy-intensive industries and at least 67 of them will be funded, according to the call.

SMEs have to lower energy consumption by at least 5%

The call is open to any SME incorporated before January 1, 2024, that is operating and registered in a country that the EU’s Single Market Program cocers.

Eligible candidates are based in the EU or Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo*, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Direct financial support aims to lead to an efficiency performance improvement of at least 5% for the participating SMEs, according to the call.

The EENergy is conducted by Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which has been supporting European SMEs since 2008 in growing, scaling, and reaching their business goals.