EIB and Crédit Agricole to mobilise €1 billion for European wind power by 2027
A partnership between the European Investment Bank and Crédit Agricole CIB aims to generate up to €8 billion in wind energy investments across the European Union through a bank guarantee mechanism.
| Sectors | Wind Energy |
|---|---|
| Themes | Investments & Transactions, Project Development, Financing |
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (Crédit Agricole CIB) have signed an agreement to mobilise up to €1 billion ($1.09 billion) to support the development of new wind farms in Europe by 2027. The operation is based on a €500 million ($545.7 million) counter-guarantee provided by the EIB, enabling the French bank to build a portfolio of bank guarantees for the benefit of its clients operating in the wind sector.
A financial lever to generate €8 billion in investments
The expected leverage effect of this operation is estimated at €8 billion ($8.73 billion) in real economy investments. The agreement aims to improve access to financing for companies developing energy production projects from wind sources, particularly in France and more broadly across the European Union. This initiative is part of a strategy to support the sector’s supply chain, from turbine manufacturing to integration into electricity networks.
Commitment under the European Wind Power Package plan
This partnership aligns with the €6.5 billion ($7.1 billion) envelope released by the EIB as part of the European wind power support programme, strengthened in 2025. The objective is to increase installed capacity by 32 gigawatts out of the 117 gigawatts needed for the European Union to meet its goal of sourcing 45 % of its energy from renewables by 2030.
Support from the InvestEU programme for risk-sharing instruments
The InvestEU programme, implemented by the European Commission to support innovation and sustainable projects, backs this initiative through risk-sharing instruments. This helps secure institutional investments while enhancing the bankability of projects.
Scaling up financial tools for the sector
The agreement is expected to enable Crédit Agricole CIB to offer a broader range of financial solutions for wind energy developers and operators, leveraging the technical expertise and risk absorption capacity of the EIB. This approach aims to strengthen the industrial competitiveness of the European wind sector amid growing demand and international competition.
