Carbon Conventions: Wallonia is funding €39M in low-carbon industrial projects before September 25, 2026
In early July 2026, the Walloon Government launched a call for projects with €39.386 million in funding to support low-carbon and energy-saving investments in the industrial sector. Reserved for companies committed to the Carbon Convention, this call is open until September 25, 2026, inclusive. For the relevant Walloon industrial players, the window is narrow and the application must be robust.
What are Carbon Conventions in practice?
Carbon Conventions are voluntary agreements between the Walloon Government and groups of companies ("carbon communities"), established under the Carbon Neutrality Decree of November 16, 2023, and the Walloon Government Decree of February 1, 2024. The first conventions were signed on June 5, 2024. Since then, the program has covered over 200 industrial sites, representing nearly 80% of industrial energy consumption in Wallonia.
The principle is structured: each member company conducts an initial audit, then defines an action plan based on three performance indicators (energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and share of renewable energy). This plan distinguishes between firm measures (technically mature and economically viable) and conditional measures (subject to financial or technical barriers). Commitments follow a trajectory toward carbon neutrality by 2050, marked by intermediate targets in 2030 and 2040, with the initiatives in the action plan (firm or conditional) required to be actionable by 2031. In exchange for these commitments, the Region is deploying several support mechanisms; the call for projects from July 9, 2026, is one of them.
What the July 2026 call for projects funds
The total budget amounts to €39.386 million, divided into €14.386 million in direct grants and €25 million in "Green Industry" subsidized loans, available through Wallonie Entreprendre. Both instruments can be combined to increase the leverage effect on investment.
For grants, each project must involve a minimum amount of €250,000, up to a limit of €2 million per site. Subsidized loans can cover up to 50% of CAPEX (after deducting any grants received), for amounts between €1 million and €10 million.
Eligible projects must be explicitly included in the company's validated action plan and meet at least one of the following two performance thresholds: a net annual reduction of at least 500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent or final energy savings of at least 1 GWh per year. A discounted payback period of more than 3 years is also required, and projects must be completed by December 31, 2029, at the latest to produce measurable effects in 2030.
Certain categories are explicitly excluded: carbon offsetting, renewable electricity production, energy storage, geological CO₂ capture and sequestration, replacement of road vehicle fleets, substitution of existing industrial refrigeration systems using fluorinated gases, and certain fuel-switching projects involving fossil or non-sustainable fuels.
How to build a strong application
Applications will be evaluated by WalEnergie, with support from SPW TLPE and AWAC (Walloon Air and Climate Agency). Ranking will be based on the environmental efficiency of the projects: the ratio between the requested aid and the expected gains in greenhouse gas emission reductions and energy savings. In other words, for a comparable amount of aid, the project with the greatest environmental impact will be prioritized.
Four areas are decisive for eligibility: the technical maturity of the project, the credibility of the projected gains, the realism of the schedule, and the financial soundness of the proposal. The application must include a comprehensive profitability analysis (internal rate of return and discounted payback period, calculated both with and without subsidies), based on actual energy costs and, for installations covered by the ETS (Emissions Trading System), the cost per tonne of CO₂ avoided.
The processing schedule is tight: closing on September 25, 2026, technical analysis from September 28 to October 14, final ranking on October 15, approval by the Walloon Government in November, results communicated to winners in December 2026.
What this means for you
If your company is a signatory to a Carbon Convention and its action plan identifies low-carbon industrial projects, this call represents a concrete funding opportunity to move from commitments to implementation before the September 25 deadline.
Preparing a solid application requires several prerequisites: a rigorous quantification of expected carbon and energy savings, a financial analysis that meets WalEnergie criteria, and alignment with the commitments in the action plan validated by the Region. Companies that have not yet completed their carbon footprint or energy audit are directly affected, as these tools form the basis for all emission reduction calculations.
ABV Environment supports Walloon industrial companies in conducting carbon footprints (Scope 1, 2, and 3), energy audits recognized by the Walloon Region under AMUREBA, and structuring their decarbonization strategies. If your project is already included in your action plan, our teams can help you document it and prepare your application on time.
Is your company part of a Carbon Convention and does your action plan include a decarbonization project? Contact ABV Environment to assess your project's feasibility and prepare your application before September 25, 2026.
