Turning Policy into Action: Why EU Funding for Decarbonisation Caught My Eye
As the EU triples its support for decarbonisation projects, the spotlight turns to building owners and what it really takes to act. In this post, I reflect on why this policy update matters — and how clarity, not just capital, is becoming the real differentiator.
By Remco Livain – Chief Growth Officer, Lookthrough
When I first saw the headline that the EU was tripling its Project Development Assistance (PDA) budget — from €24 million to €90 million — my first reaction wasn’t celebration. It was curiosity. What exactly does this funding unlock? And more importantly, who’s in a position to make use of it?
In my role at Lookthrough, I focus on how we communicate with our clients and the wider market. That means translating complex policy changes into something tangible — especially for real estate portfolio owners navigating mounting regulatory pressure. And this one feels important.
The PDA program, backed by the EU Innovation Fund and the Emissions Trading System, is designed to support up to 250 projects between now and 2028. It covers sectors like net-zero mobility and industrial carbon management — but also low-carbon buildings, which is where our work often comes in.
That last piece is key. Because even though buildings are a major lever in Europe’s decarbonisation plan, the practical challenge isn’t about funding alone. It’s about knowing what to retrofit, when, and why. And that’s the part most organizations still struggle with.
From what I see in our client conversations, the missing ingredient is rarely ambition. It’s clarity. Teams want to act, but they’re stuck trying to figure out where the real opportunities are — and how to get there without spending six months gathering data that’s already outdated by the time it’s analyzed.
This is exactly the kind of situation we’ve built Lookthrough for. Our platform gives portfolio owners and operators the ability to zoom out, assess the big picture across hundreds or thousands of buildings, and prioritize their next steps. Not based on gut feeling, but grounded in data, timing, and real-world constraints.
Of course, funding like the EU’s PDA program helps — but it’s not the solution by itself. In many ways, these announcements serve as signals. They mark moments when proactive organizations can take a step forward, while others are still trying to get their bearings.
That’s why this news caught my attention. Because it reinforces the core of what I believe we need more of in this space: strategic clarity, fast decision-making, and real collaboration between the people who own buildings and those who actually manage them.
If that sounds like something you’re working on, we’re probably thinking about the same things.
Sources
European Commission – Innovation Fund: EU and EIB renew their partnership
Reuters – Why the building sector needs a ‘make do and mend’ mentality
For more on how we think about portfolio clarity and future-proofing buildings, visit Lookthrough.io
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P.S. I’ve just started sharing more of these reflections and updates over on Twitter. Follow along here → @rlivain_builds
