EIB and Crédit Agricole CIB Launch €1 Billion Wind Energy Guarantee Programme to Mobilise €8 Billion in EU Green Investment

The partnership falls under the EIB’s wider €6.5 billion financial support package for wind energy, aligned with the European Wind Power Package introduced by the European Commission in late 2023.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Crédit Agricole CIB have announced a major strategic financing partnership designed to accelerate wind energy deployment across Europe and reinforce the EU’s clean energy transition goals.

As part of the agreement, the EIB will provide a €500 million counter-guarantee, enabling Crédit Agricole CIB to issue up to €1 billion in bank guarantees to support new wind farm developments across EU member states. Through its risk-sharing structure, the initiative is forecast to generate up to €8 billion in wind power investments, bolstering large-scale industrial deployment, grid integration, and supply chain resilience.

The partnership falls under the EIB’s wider €6.5 billion financial support package for wind energy, aligned with the European Wind Power Package introduced by the European Commission in late 2023. The programme aims to help the EU add 32 GW of new wind generation capacity, contributing toward Europe’s 2030 target of ensuring at least 45% of total energy comes from renewable sources. This initiative is backed by the InvestEU programme, which provides financial guarantees to stimulate innovation, infrastructure, and climate-aligned investment.

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle emphasized that accelerating wind energy capacity is critical to Europe’s long-term climate commitments and energy independence:

“Wind power will play a central role in delivering affordable, decarbonised and locally sourced clean energy across Europe. This risk-sharing mechanism with Crédit Agricole CIB will unlock new investments, strengthen the industrial base, and help Europe reach carbon neutrality with greater resilience and autonomy.”

Crédit Agricole CIB CEO Jean-François Balaÿ described the partnership as a milestone in the bank’s transition financing strategy:

“This framework agreement enhances our ability to support wind power developers with new financing models, enabling faster and scalable deployment of sustainable infrastructure across Europe. Working alongside the EIB strengthens our shared commitment to delivering real-world climate impact.”

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Strengthening Europe’s Renewable Energy Ecosystem

Beyond financing new wind farms, the agreement is expected to stimulate growth across the entire renewable value chain—from turbine manufacturers and component suppliers to logistics partners and power grid operators. Industry observers say the structure will also help overcome current barriers in the EU wind market, such as high upfront capital needs, supply chain volatility, and financing gaps for first-of-a-kind or large-scale grid-connected projects.

The initiative is also expected to attract additional private-sector lenders and institutional investors, further multiplying its impact and positioning Europe as a global leader in renewable energy innovation and deployment.