SIFEM - Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets

Supporting Renewable Energy projects via ICCF

Climate change is gaining increasing importance in the global community and there is more and more awareness of the need to sustainably use natural resources. As part of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, the UN adopted 17 sustainable development goals, among others: i) ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all and ii) take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

The goal of the ICCF (Interact Climate Change Facility) is to provide a common financing platform for the EDFI members to promote clean energy and renewable energy projects in OECD DAC countries with a particular focus on CO2 offsetting projects. Given the nature of clean energy projects there is a real need for long-term financing. ICCF provides long-term senior and subordinated loans to climate-friendly projects and/or companies in the private sector.

The following sectors are eligible for co-financing proposals under ICCF:

  • Renewable energy (wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, biomass and biofuels)
  • Production of components for renewable energy (for example windmill blades, photovoltaic cells or boilers)
  • Energy efficiency and alternative energy projects, including waste-to-energy, technology replacement etc.
  • Transportation projects contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions
  • Carbon sequestration projects, including reforestation

SIFEM initially committed EUR 5m to ICCF in February 2011. In a first top-up in 2013 SIFEM provided EUR 5m and EUR 7.5m in a second top-up in 2014. For the third top-up SIFEM committed EUR 8m in November 2016.