ELTI Brochure on Sustainable Infrastructure 

In October 2022, ELTI released its third electronic brochure, this time covering the topic of Sustainable Infrastructure. With 17 projects from 11 ELTI members, this brochure demonstrates that NPBIs are active all over Europe, that we speak the language of the clients and project promotors and that big projects with a financing volume of more than 100 million EUR can be successfully implemented with the financial support of NPBIs.

Infrastructure investment projects are long-term investments due to their high investment volumes as well as their long-term use. Today we see many cross-border projects notably for renewable energy. Long-term investors such as National Promotional Banks and Institutions (NPBIs) with their public mission are best placed to provide the necessary financing volumes as well as the expertise for the implementation of these projects. In a number of cases NPBIs have gone beyond national borders as it is the case for off-shore wind parks very often. This brochure highlights only a few projects in very different fields of infrastructure all over Europe. They demonstrate the creativity of project promotors and the willingness and ability to take risks of NPBIs for more sustainable infrastructure,

Preface

Infrastructure in all its dimensions is crucial for the well-being of people and the efficient functioning of societies. In too many cases we are taking clean drinking water, electricity, warm housing facilities, energy for our companies, high-speed trains, good highway connections or functioning hospitals, schools, universities or the existence of homes for elderly people for granted.\n \nOur efforts to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement showed that in order to fight climate change, we need further investments for our energy infrastructure, especially in difficult times. Renewable energy should replace fossil fuels wherever possible and the sooner this is done the better. With the European Green Deal the European Union prepared the ground to think in different dimensions and not only promote the production of clean energy but to use energy more efficient and save energy wherever possible. In times of crisis – as it is the case in 2022 – the strategy for reshaping the energy network became even more evident. And we saw once more that energy security has a strong European dimension. \n \nInfrastructure investment projects are long-term investments due to their high investment volumes as well as their long-term use. Today we see many cross-border projects notably for renewable energy. Long-term investors such as National Promotional Banks and Institutions (NPBIs) with their public mission are best placed to provide the necessary financing volumes as well as the expertise for the implementation of these projects.

In 2021 NPBIs provided financing in the range of 1.800 billion EUR of which 40% served to (co-)finance sustainable projects. In a number of cases NPBIs have gone beyond national borders as it is the case for off-shore wind parks very often. This brochure highlights only a few projects in very different fields of infrastructure all over Europe. They demonstrate the creativity of project promotors and the willingness and ability to take risks of NPBIs for more sustainable infrastructure. I’m looking forward to discuss sustainable infrastructure with you and would be even more happy if this documentation will help to enable more sustainable infrastructure projects.\n \nMore than ever, NPBIs are needed to ensure our common future. Together we can do more!