Intesa Sanpaolo and Sace together with a ceiling of 10 billion euro to support small and medium-sized enterprises in a path of "energy self-production".
The main objective of the project “is fencourage investments in renewable energies of all companies, in particular SMEs, of the agribusiness and third sector chain” says a note. Furthermore, the project aims to help companies "seize the opportunities provided by government interventions, with specific regard to photovoltaics, promoting the production of renewable energy and increasing the country's energy efficiency".
“The complexity of the current scenario has highlighted the risks of dependence on traditional energy sources and the need for diversification,” he comments Stephen Barrese, head of the Banca dei Territori Intesa Sanpaolo division. “We have developed a further concrete action to accelerate the transition of our productive fabric and, thanks to the intervention of SACE, we intend to provide our client companies with the most innovative tools and offer them direct economic benefits by leveraging self-production and self-consumption of energy.
There are many opportunities in the field starting from the Pnrr: we need to seize them
The joint commitment falls within the framework of the initiatives in support of the PNRR and is part of the larger one intervention program, Engine Italy, launched a year ago by Intesa Sanpaolo to support SMEs. Also in the field DL Energy which defines measures for the installation of renewable energy plants by simplifying the authorization procedures and to follow the Aid Decree.
In line with the objectives set by the PNIEC - Integrated National Plan for Energy and Climate - and by the European Green Deal, the new initiative accelerates the energy transition and generates a direct economic impact on businesses, promoting theirself-production and self-consumption of energy.
The action of Intesa Sanpaolo and SACE is also part of the European Commission's plan, REPowerEU, to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, including the Solar Rooftop Initiative, which provides for the obligatory of solar panels and photovoltaic systems on the roofs of new buildings.
Consulting, financing, support for raw material costs
Among the internees of the new initiative there are for example consultancy and advisory for access to tenders/realisation, funding medium-long term, up to 20 years, with the SACE Green Guarantee, support in managing and mitigating the increase in costs of raw materials with loans with SACE guarantees to allow energy consuming companies to meet the payment of bills without resorting to installments and financial instruments to cover the risk of changes in electricity and gas prices.
"We at SACE are alongside small and medium-sized enterprises to accompany them in the necessary transition towards an economy with a lower environmental impact, in full line with our role as implementer of the Green New Deal on the Italian territory" he says Dario Liguti, Chief Underwriter Officer of Sace.
Renewable energy: 30% and 50% savings for SMEs
A recent survey by Intesa Sanpaolo's Studies and Research Department in collaboration with Prometeia confirms this renewables are crucial for the diversification of energy sources. “The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is making the issue of energy transition increasingly central, necessary not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also to increase Europe's energy security and calm price volatility, which has become a risk factor for households and corporate cash flows, the statement said.
Investing in renewable energies would allow savings on the energy bill of SMEs estimated between 30% and 50% on the basis of energy costs recorded in the first months of 2022. As regards the diversification of energy sources, Italy is in second place among the main European countries for total consumption from renewables (20,4% in 2020, above the target of 17%), ahead of Germany and France.
Intesa Sanpaolo has already launched initiatives of this kind: in recent months there has been financial support to support energy-intensive SMEs and those with turnover largely deriving from exports, especially towards Russia and Ukraine, as well as a ceiling of 1,5. XNUMX billion euros intended to reward and enhance the sustainable business models of companies that invest in reducing their environmental impact.
S-Loan Climate Change also falls within this context, the initiative launched in August 2021 in synergy with SACE, designed for SMEs and MIDs - Caps who intend to invest to counter the effects of climate change and reduce their environmental impact through projects for a sustainable transformation. More than 4 billion have already been disbursed with this initiative, says Barrese.
With the new 2022-2025 Business Plan, Intesa Sanpaolo confirms its leadership for ESG issues, allocating new credit for 88 billion euro in favor of the green economy and ecological transition of structured companies and SMEs.
