Key Impact Points:
- €100 million in green loans unlocked: EBRD extends €80 million guarantee to BNP Paribas Bank Polska to support residential energy efficiency upgrades.
- First InvestEU financial sector deal in Poland: The initiative marks EBRD’s inaugural InvestEU-backed facility in Poland’s banking sector.
- Targeting 40% of Poland’s housing stock: Single-family homeowners to benefit from funding to replace coal boilers, reduce emissions, and cut energy bills.
EBRD Drives Green Transition in Polish Homes
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has extended an €80 million unfunded portfolio guarantee to BNP Paribas Bank Polska (BNPPBP), paving the way for €100 million in new financing aimed at energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades in Poland’s residential sector.
The facility—EBRD’s first InvestEU financial sector project in Poland—will provide private individuals with access to loans for projects such as thermal upgrades, renewable energy installations, and the replacement of outdated heating systems.
“We are pleased to continue our successful cooperation with BNP Paribas Bank Polska and further scale up energy efficiency financing in Poland,” said Andreea Moraru, EBRD Regional Director for Poland and the Baltic States. “By modernising and decarbonising the Polish residential and transport sector, we are supporting Poland’s green transition and improving the comfort and quality of life for residents.”
Tackling Energy Intensity and Air Pollution
The initiative focuses on single-family homes, which make up nearly 40% of Poland’s residential buildings and are among the most energy- and carbon-intensive. Coal-fired residential heating systems, responsible for roughly 40% of the country’s total energy use, will be targeted for replacement—helping to cut both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The program aligns with the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition (GET) approach and benefits from EU partial first-loss risk coverage and technical assistance under the InvestEU Programme.
“Residential green financing is one of the key elements of BNPPBP’s strategy concerning energy transformation,” said Jarek Rot, Chief Sustainability Officer at BNP Paribas Bank Polska. “Thanks to efficient cooperation with EBRD, the bank will be able to further increase its engagement in projects related to energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy.”
Supporting Sustainable Homes and Affordable Living
“Investing in new heat sources is a significant but unavoidable expense for our clients,” said Adam Hirny, Director of the Sustainable Business Development Department at BNP Paribas Bank Polska. “To ease this process, we at BNP Paribas Bank Polska, together with EBRD, remain strongly committed to supporting this transition using available EU instruments, such as InvestEU guarantees. We believe this will lead to energy savings, which will be reflected in reduced energy bills, improved quality of life and increased property values.”
BNP Paribas Bank Polska, Poland’s sixth-largest bank and majority-owned by BNP Paribas Group, is a leader in sustainable finance. The EBRD, which holds a minority stake in the bank, has invested nearly €16 billion in Poland across 560 projects, including a record €1.43 billion in 2024.
The InvestEU programme helps channel long-term EU funding toward key priorities like the European Green Deal and supports both economic recovery and digital transition across member states.
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