Selection of a Bank for a Craftsmen Decarbonisation Loan
This call was not aimed directly at craft businesses: it sought to select a bank already established in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and active with craft clients. The planned loans were to finance investments of €5,000 to €100,000 excluding VAT, with a simple payback period of more than three years and a decarbonisation cost of no more than €80 per tonne of CO₂ avoided over 20 years. The call closed on 5 July 2026.
ADEME and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chamber of Trades and Crafts looked for a banking partner to roll out a subsidised loan for craft businesses investing in their energy transition. The scheme aims to make moderate-sized projects bankable when their payback period is too long for some standard financing.
Funded by ADEME
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Who can apply
Applicants to the call were banks operating in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, already present in all or part of the region and with craft-business clients. Craft businesses were the intended end beneficiaries of the future loan, but could not apply themselves to this bank selection call.
Eligibility conditions
The planned investments had to reduce fossil fuel use, notably through energy efficiency, electrification of processes or renewable heat production. The investment had to be between €5,000 and €100,000 excluding VAT, with a simple payback period of more than three years and a public aid cost of no more than €80 per tonne of CO₂e avoided over 20 years. The bank selection call is closed.
What the scheme covers
The mechanism was intended to finance decarbonisation projects by craft businesses, for example more efficient equipment, electrification of processes or renewable heat production. The annex to the specifications set out eligible and excluded investments. The subsidised loan was to be marketed by the selected bank, with the interest subsidy funded by ADEME.
Amount and funding terms
The call provided for a subsidised-rate loan for craft businesses, with an illustrative rate of 1% mentioned by ADEME. ADEME was to compensate the partner bank for the interest difference compared with the standard commercial rate. The 1% rate was an example of the mechanism, not a loan offer directly open to all craft businesses without a selected intermediary.
How to apply
As the call is closed, craft businesses should contact their bank, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Chamber of Trades and Crafts or ADEME to find out whether the selected bank has rolled out the mechanism. To prepare an application, cost the investment excluding VAT, the energy savings, the emissions avoided and the simple payback period; do not treat the loan as available until the commercial offer has been confirmed.
Timeline
Bank selection call open from 28 May to 5 July 2026 at noon; the call is closed. The ADEME page states that the list of winners will be published later.
Key facts
- Funder
- ADEME
- Type of funding
- Call for projects
- Status
- Ongoing
- Funding rate
- 1%
- Automatically extracted — check the official source
- Geographic scope
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Frequently asked questions
Could craft businesses apply directly?
No, the call aimed to select a partner bank in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Which investments were planned?
Investments of €5,000 to €100,000 excluding VAT that reduce fossil fuel use.
What loan rate was mentioned?
A subsidised rate of 1% was given as an example, not as a guaranteed universal offer.
Is the call open?
No, it closed on 5 July 2026 at noon.
Official source
Official ADEME page ↗(ademe_scraper)Applications are made from the official source (usually in French).
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