PolREFF – Polish Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility

PolREFF (Polish Residential Energy Efficiency Financing Facility) was a nationwide programme financing investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in the residential sector. Launched on the initiative of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the programme was implemented between 2016 and 2026, with the support of European Union funds and the EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund – Taiwan.

The Polish Foundation for Energy Efficiency (FEWE) acted as a key substantive and technical partner in the project, co-developing and implementing expert tools, investment assessment systems, and information and educational activities.

Project objectives

The objectives of the PolREFF programme were to:

increase the scale of investments aimed at improving the energy efficiency of residential buildings,
develop market-based financing instruments for “green” investments in households,
reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions,
improve residents’ quality of life and air quality.

The programme was addressed primarily to owners of single-family houses, as well as to housing communities and cooperatives, technology suppliers, and financial institutions.

Operating model

PolREFF was based on cooperation between the EBRD and commercial banks operating in Poland (including Santander/BZ WBK, Euro Bank, and Santander Consumer Bank), which provided loans for the energy modernisation of buildings.

Technical and information tools formed an integral part of the programme, including:

Virtual Technology Advisor (WDT) – a public database of verified technologies and devices meeting energy efficiency criteria,
Energy Savings Calculator, enabling users to estimate the energy, financial, and environmental benefits of planned investments,
expert support, training, and information and promotional activities.

During the course of the programme, PolREFF’s solutions were integrated with national support instruments, in particular with the “Clean Air” (Czyste Powietrze) and “My Electricity” (Mój Prąd) programmes, as well as the thermal modernisation tax relief.

Outcomes and results

Throughout the implementation of the PolREFF programme:

more than 36,000 loans were granted for investments in energy efficiency,
the total value of financing provided exceeded EUR 200 million,
annual primary energy savings of over 250,000 MWh were achieved,
CO₂ emissions were reduced by approximately 65,600 tonnes per year,
emissions of air pollutants (particulate matter, NOx, OGC) were significantly reduced, particularly in single-family buildings.

The most frequently implemented investments included:

photovoltaic installations,
heat pumps,
thermal modernisation of building envelopes (walls, roofs, floors),
replacement of heat sources and of window and door joinery.

Significance of the project

PolREFF played an important role in:

developing the market for financing energy efficiency in Poland,
raising the technological standards and quality of devices available on the market,
building the competencies of financial institutions, technology suppliers, and advisors,
shaping solutions that have served as inspiration for subsequent national support programmes.

The experience gained under PolREFF is now being used in new initiatives supporting the energy transition, including activities at the local and regional level.

Information about the project on the EBRD website: https://ebrdgeff.com/poland_facilities