At BAFA’s Energy Day 2025, LEAPto11 presented findings on how SMEs can be better supported under Article 11.
At the annual Energy Day hosted by the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) on 2 October 2025, Dr Daniel Vallentin from the German Energy Agency (dena) shared key findings from the LEAPto11 project. His presentation focused on support programmes available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement energy audits and energy management systems in the ten LEAPto11 partner countries, as they work to comply with Article 11 of the revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).
The EED, amended in 2023, now requires companies with an average annual energy consumption above 10 TJ to conduct energy audits every four years, and those above 85 TJ to implement energy management systems. Unlike the previous version of the Directive, SMEs are now included in these obligations. Member States must also provide support programmes to help SMEs carry out audits, implement measures, and understand the benefits of energy management systems.
As part of LEAPto11, more than 50 support programmes across partner countries were analysed. The results show that most initiatives (39) focus primarily on financial support, while fewer offer cooperation and exchange opportunities (7) or information and advisory services (7). Only 16 programmes specifically target SMEs.
The analysis highlights the need for more SME-oriented support and for better linking financial incentives with information, advice, and peer-learning opportunities. Examples could include requiring participation in energy efficiency networks as a condition for funding or offering bonus rates for companies that take part.
The BAFA event also showed strong interest from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and from attending energy consultants in exchanging experiences with other EU Member States, particularly regarding support programmes and methods for identifying obligated companies under Article 11.
