Green Creation Guarantee Grant

About this grant

The Green Creation Guarantee (Garantie Création Verte) is a guarantee product offered by Bpifrance designed to facilitate the financing of business creation projects that meet the eligibility criteria of the Green Token (Token Garantie Verte) pathways. The programme supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in or transitioning toward ecological and energy transition activities. Under this scheme, Bpifrance guarantees up to 80% of the financing provided by lending institutions to eligible SMEs and micro-enterprises (TPEs/PMEs) for projects linked to ecological and energy transition. The guarantee can cover medium- and long-term loans, personal loans to managers for equity contributions, lease financing (excluding simple rental), and other specified instruments. Eligibility under the guarantee depends on which 'token' pathway the enterprise has obtained. Companies with a 'Nouvelle Entreprise' (New Company) or 'Offreur de Solutions' (Solution Provider) token can use the guarantee for material and immaterial investment financing, working capital needs, acquisition of a business or shares in a company less than three years old. Companies with an 'Entreprise en Transition' (Transitioning Company) token can finance eligible qualified investments within the token pathway, with up to 20% of other non-qualifying investments also permitted. The guarantee was formally notified from 20 March 2024, with Guarantee Contracts for signatory banks available from 20 September 2024. There is no stated minimum or maximum guarantee amount, and the duration ranges from 2 to 15 years (up to 18 years for certain lease and renewable energy projects).

Eligibility

Applicants must be enterprises (companies, sole traders, associations, foundations, liberal professions, etc.) of any legal form, registered in Metropolitan France, the French Overseas Departments and Regions (DROM), Collectivités d'Outre-Mer (COM), or New Caledonia. They must comply with the European definition of an SME and must have obtained a qualifying token under the Green Guarantee Token pathway. Enterprises in financial difficulty as defined by European regulation are excluded, as are entities that cannot produce financial accounts (balance sheet and income statement), except in the case of newly created companies. Associations or foundations without economic activity are also excluded. All sectors are eligible except financial intermediation activities (NAF code K 64, excluding holding companies NAF 64.2), purely patrimonial operations (cash out, self-sales, etc.), and real estate promotion and rental activities (NAF sections L 68.1, L 68.2, and F 41.1), with an exception for real estate programmes carried by an SCI intended to be rented to a company whose majority shareholders are also majority shareholders of the SCI.

How it's scored

The page does not disclose specific evaluation or scoring criteria for the guarantee. Eligibility is primarily determined by whether the applicant enterprise has obtained one of the qualifying Green Token pathway designations (Nouvelle Entreprise, Offreur de Solutions, or Entreprise en Transition) and meets the SME definition and sector eligibility requirements.

Key requirements

• ✓Must obtain a Green Token (Token Garantie Verte) in one of three pathways: Nouvelle Entreprise, Offreur de Solutions, or Entreprise en Transition
• ✓Eligible for SMEs and micro-enterprises (TPEs/PMEs) engaged in or transitioning toward ecological and energy transition activities
• ✓Loan duration 2–15 years (up to 18 years for lease and renewable energy projects); guarantee covers up to 80% of lender financing
• ✓Financing can cover material/immaterial investments, working capital, business/share acquisition (less than 3 years old), and qualified green investments depending on token pathway

Frequently asked questions

When is the Green Creation Guarantee deadline?

This is a rolling call with no fixed deadline, so applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Who can apply for Green Creation Guarantee?

Eligibility covers organisations in FR, EU; startup, sme. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Renewable energy funding covers solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy, from early research to grid-scale deployment. Public money tends to back demonstration, grid connection and access to energy in emerging markets, while procurement notices buy installation, operation and maintenance. Calls often ask for proof of resource assessment, permitting progress and local partners.