Background information

The Walloon Government, in response to the increasing costs of energy and CO2 emissions, is launching the WalEnergie scheme. This initiative, proposed by the Minister for the Economy, Willy Borsus, and the Minister for Energy, Philippe Henry, aims to assist companies in transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

As the future viability of businesses hinges on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, many lack the expertise and financing required for such investments. Deploying innovative energy and climate technologies demands substantial resources, posing both technical and financial risks, often with long-term returns.

To address these challenges, the Government is entrusting SRIW and SOWALFIN with the task of establishing the WalEnergie scheme. This program offers support and financing for low-carbon transition projects in Wallonia. It seeks to create a comprehensive support and financing platform for businesses of all sizes, complementing existing initiatives such as Novalia's EasyGreen scheme, which targets VSEs/SMEs. This move aligns with the broader goal of fostering a sustainable and environmentally responsible business landscape.

Content of measure

WalEnergie will structure its support for industries around the financing of five strategic areas:

• Improving production processes through innovative, low-carbon technologies.
• Energy efficiency and renovation of buildings, including lighting (possibly via EPCs).
• Renewable energy production.
• Sustainable mobility.
• Logistics and maintenance.

Initially, WalEnergie will work with "pilot" industrial companies that are part of the Branch Agreements from several sectors, such as chemicals or IT.

For these companies, WalEnergie will use audits, CO2 mapping and the companies' current action plans as a basis for making concrete investment proposals with appropriate financing solutions.

WalEnergie will also offer support in implementing action plans with long payback periods (more than 5 years), through additional studies and assistance in identifying investment subsidies that could be activated in order to carry out a robust economic and financial analysis.

Financing will be provided in the form of loans, guarantees and, to a lesser extent, equity investments.

Use of measure

No data.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Local / regional government	Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available

Views and reactions

No information available

Sources

• 22 December 2021: WalEnergie (clusters.wallonie.be)