The Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development will issue a second public call for grants to co-finance energy efficiency and renewables projects in manufacturing industries. The call will be issued on October 15, and the total budget is slightly over EUR 35 million.

The funding for energy efficiency and renewables projects in the manufacturing sector has been secured from the European Regional Development Fund, and individual grants will range from EUR 26,400 to EUR 2.64 million.

The objectives include cutting the share of fossil fuels in overall energy consumption.

The purpose of the public call is to support energy savings by increasing the efficiency of energy use in manufacturing industries, as well to reduce the share of fossil fuels in overall energy consumption.

Projects may include the energy renovation of buildings related to manufacturing processes.

Apart from energy efficiency measures and the installation of equipment for the use of renewable energy sources, project proposals may also refer to energy renovation measures in buildings that are related to manufacturing processes.

Eligible to apply for grants are micro, small, medium, and large private enterprises in all manufacturing and processing industries, except for the production and processing of food, drinks, and tobacco, according to an announcement on the ministry’s website.

Applicants must act individually, and no partnerships are allowed. Also, a candidate may submit only one project proposal. Applications may be submitted from November 16, 2020 to January 25, 2021.

In 2017, Croatia launched a program of state subsidies for improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in the manufacturing and services sectors, after securing funding for the purpose from the European Regional Development Fund, according to earlier reports.

Croatia’s Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU) has recently issued a public call to co-finance the procurement of electric and hydrogen-fueled buses for public transportation in urban areas.