Interest-free loans for Czech firms are back: NRB allocates two billion for energy savings

The National Development Bank (NRB) has reopened applications for the New Energy Savings programme. The higher allocation is accompanied by a lower grant contribution and support limited to five regions. In the first month after launch, applications for support worth CZK 200 million were received.

Since 5 August, businesses of any size have once again been able to apply for a loan under the New Energy Savings programme. It is funded by the Technology and Applications for Competitiveness Operational Programme (OP TAK), whose programming period expires next year. Investments listed as examples include insulation of building envelopes, the replacement or refurbishment of windows, doors and other openings, construction modifications reducing buildings' energy demand, and their adaptation to a changing climate. Support for firms also covers, among other things, investments in cooling systems, ventilation with heat recovery, humidity control, hot-water heating and the deployment of renewable energy sources.

The new call has an allocation of CZK 2 billion, CZK 230 million more than in the previous round. Under NRB conditions, loans ranging from CZK 500,000 to CZK 60 million can be drawn, covering up to 90% of a project's eligible costs. This is accompanied by a grant contribution of up to 20% of eligible costs, although it is paid only after the project is completed. It depends on the savings actually achieved and cannot exceed the loan drawn. The loan repayment period is set at ten years, with principal repayments deferred for up to two years.

Small businesses were the main loan recipients in the past, with the South Moravian Region leading

NRB suspended the previous round of the programme in August last year after the CZK 1.77 billion allocation was exhausted. By the end of 2025, the programme had supported 230 projects, although the bank notes that the final figure may still change slightly. The average loan was around CZK 5 million. In addition to the financing itself, part of the allocation was also used for grant contributions for meeting programme conditions and for preparing energy assessments, which were a mandatory part of the application.

The recipient structure confirms that the programme mainly supported small enterprises. According to an NRB guide, these have fewer than 50 employees and annual turnover or an annual balance-sheet total, meaning total assets, of no more than EUR 10 million (CZK 243 million). Around half of projects were carried out by small enterprises, with a further roughly 35% going to medium-sized enterprises and the remaining 15% to large enterprises.

In terms of regional distribution, the largest share of projects was concentrated in the South Moravian Region (16%). This was followed by the Olomouc Region (15%), Hradec Králové Region (13%), Central Bohemian Region (11%) and Zlín Region (10%). At the other end of the ranking were the Karlovy Vary Region (1%) and South Bohemian Region (2%).

“The New Energy Savings programme builds on the previous successful programme implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which helps entrepreneurs and companies in selected regions to finance projects that improve their energy efficiency at low cost. At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy prices and growing international competition, investments in energy savings are a route to greater competitiveness, resilience and long-term business stability in the Czech Republic,”said Tomáš Nidetzký, chairman of the board of the National Development Bank.

More favourable terms concentrated in fewer regions

The previous call initially offered a fixed interest rate of 1.99% per year, but from February last year NRB announced that it would provide zero-interest loans. It cited movements in the reference rates that it must take into account in preferential programmes. The reference rate is based on the European Central Bank rate for the Czech Republic. It was substantially higher in 2023 and 2024 (7.43%) than it is now (3.54%). According to NRB, its decline made it possible to cut the programme's base interest rate to zero.

However, in addition to the reference rate, the ceiling for the grant contribution has also fallen from 35% to 20% of eligible costs. A further restriction is the geographical narrowing. Previously, the call distinguished between two groups of regions with different support ceilings and covered virtually the entire country outside Prague. It is now conditional on the project being implemented in just one of five regions. The selected regions are Central Bohemian, South Bohemian, South Moravian and Plzeň regions, and the Vysočina Region. These correspond to the three so-called transition regions—Central Bohemia, South-West and South-East—as defined for 2021-2027 by the Ministry of Finance's co-financing rules.

The less developed regions—areas with GDP per capita below 75% of the European Union average—have therefore been excluded from support. Cohesion policy normally grants them the highest level of support. NRB says that the decision on selecting the supported regions was made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and is linked to overall drawdown under the OP TAK operational programme.

Advice for applicants: attention to detail matters

The initial take-up of the new call has so far matched the success of the previous one. In the first month after launch, NRB recorded 18 accepted applications for preferential loans and potential grant contributions. Together, they represent a reservation of programme resources worth roughly CZK 200 million.

According to NRB, the most common cause of delays is incomplete submissions, which the bank returns for completion, extending application processing times. It is therefore worth providing all required information in the initial submission. The bank does not expect applications to be completely error-free, anticipates shortcomings and offers applicants assistance.