The demand for financing energy efficiency projects and the use of renewable sources is increasing, emphasized Marija Šćulac Domac, assistant director at the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, who spoke at the Regional Conference on Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency about the opportunities and prospects for project financing by the Fund.
– In 2008, there were 233 applications, and this year a record number of applications has been achieved, more than 900 project proposals – emphasized Šćulac Domac. In a brief overview of the EU Energy Development Strategy and Croatian goals, she noted that the targets related to renewable sources are mandatory, while those related to energy efficiency are indicative.
– For now, there are no consequences if the targets are not met, but there are indications that this could change – emphasized Šćulac Domac, adding that to achieve the goals, it is essential to improve the energy characteristics of buildings, ensure financial support for investments in the public and private sectors, organize education, and realize and implement projects.
The key conditions for project realization are the definition of legal, administrative, market, and institutional frameworks. The Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund plays an important role as a key body established to secure additional funds for financing projects in the fields of environmental protection, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources, which it secures from earmarked revenues and allocates through public tenders. Since its establishment to date, in six years, the Fund has accepted more than four thousand projects and for this purpose, 6.4 billion kuna has been approved.
