Measures ranked by payback
| Measure | Typical saving | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Compressed air leak repair | 10–30% of air energy | 1–6 months |
| Variable speed drives on pumps and fans | 20–50% on that load | 9–24 months |
| IE4/IE5 motor replacement at end of life | 3–8% per motor | 18–36 months |
| Refrigeration floating head pressure control | 8–20% of cooling energy | 12–24 months |
| Heat recovery from compressors and refrigeration | 10–25% of thermal demand | 18–40 months |
| Insulation of steam and chilled lines | 3–10% of thermal | 6–18 months |
| LED and controls in production halls | 40–70% of lighting | 12–30 months |
| Rooftop solar with self-consumption | 15–40% of electricity | 4–8 years |
Buying efficiency into new equipment
Energy consumption is far cheaper to specify than to retrofit. Require suppliers to state kWh per tonne of output at guaranteed conditions, and evaluate bids on five-year energy cost alongside price. A 12% efficiency difference on a line consuming 2 GWh a year is worth roughly $120K–$260K over five years at typical industrial tariffs — often more than the price gap between bidders.
Energy clauses for the RFQ
- Guaranteed specific energy consumption per unit of output
- Motor efficiency class stated for every drive above 0.75 kW
- Variable speed drives on all variable-load pumps, fans and compressors
- Heat recovery interfaces provided even if recovery is a later phase
- Sub-metering by process area included in the control scope
- Standby and idle consumption declared, not just running load
Efficiency evidence unlocks cheaper capital
Development banks and green credit lines frequently offer preferential pricing for measurable energy or emissions reduction. A documented kWh-per-tonne improvement is both an operating saving and a financing argument.
Questions & answers
Frequently asked questions
How much of industrial energy cost is addressable?
In most plants that have never run a structured programme, 15–30% of energy cost can be removed with measures paying back inside three years.
Are energy guarantees enforceable?
Yes, when the test conditions, measurement method and input specification are defined in the contract and linked to retention or liquidated damages.
Can energy efficiency projects be financed separately?
Often, through green credit lines, development bank facilities or energy performance contracts where repayment is linked to verified savings.
Do you include energy consumption in bid comparisons?
Yes. Our quotation levelling includes a five-year energy cost line so bids are compared on total cost rather than purchase price alone.
Industrial financing
Financing routes for operations & roi
Financing is scoped alongside the RFQ, not after supplier selection — the funding route changes the optimal supplier, currency, incoterms and delivery schedule. Global B2B Group never lends, never takes a success fee from buyers and is not tied to any institution. Below are the nine routes we actively structure against.
Export Credit Agencies
State-backed cover (Euler Hermes, SACE, EKF, UKEF, Atradius, K-Sure) on equipment exported from the supplier's country, usually combined with a commercial bank loan.
- Tenor
- 5 – 12 years
- Ticket
- $2M – $250M
Best for: Imported production lines and turnkey plants from EU, UK, Korea or Japan
- Eligible country content
- Down payment 15%
- Bankable feasibility study
Development Banks & DFIs
IFC, EBRD, AfDB, ADB, IDB, FMO, Proparco and bilateral development windows funding industrial capex with concessional pricing and long grace periods.
- Tenor
- 7 – 15 years
- Ticket
- $5M – $200M
Best for: Food security, cold chain, energy efficiency and job-creating projects in emerging markets
- ESG / E&S compliance
- Audited financials
- Development impact case
Commercial Lending
Bank term debt and capex facilities secured against project cash flow, equipment and corporate balance sheet, in local or hard currency.
- Tenor
- 3 – 8 years
- Ticket
- $500K – $80M
Best for: Established operators expanding proven capacity
- DSCR ≥ 1.3x
- Security package
- Sponsor equity 25–35%
Equipment Leasing
Operating and finance leases that keep machinery off the balance sheet, preserve working capital and align payments with production ramp-up.
- Tenor
- 2 – 7 years
- Ticket
- $100K – $25M
Best for: Single machines, packaging lines, handling fleets and phased upgrades
- Asset resale value
- Insurance
- Deposit 10–20%
Vendor Financing
Supplier-supported deferred payment and instalment structures negotiated inside the RFQ, before supplier selection narrows your leverage.
- Tenor
- 1 – 5 years
- Ticket
- $250K – $30M
Best for: Buyers who want a single contractual counterparty for supply and payment terms
- Supplier credit appetite
- Bank guarantee or LC
- Milestone schedule
Project Finance
Limited-recourse SPV structures where the facility's own cash flow repays the debt, with independent technical and market due diligence.
- Tenor
- 8 – 18 years
- Ticket
- $20M – $500M
Best for: Greenfield plants, integrated processing complexes and utility-scale infrastructure
- Offtake agreements
- EPC contract
- Independent engineer report
Private Equity
Growth and buy-out capital from industrial and agri-focused funds, typically alongside a debt tranche to lower the blended cost of capital.
- Tenor
- 4 – 7 year hold
- Ticket
- $5M – $150M
Best for: Platform build-outs, consolidation and cross-border expansion
- Governance standards
- Growth thesis
- Exit path
Investment Partners
Strategic co-investors, family offices and regional sponsors who bring local licensing, land, offtake or distribution alongside capital.
- Tenor
- Negotiated
- Ticket
- $1M – $50M
Best for: Projects needing local partnership or market access as much as funding
- Shareholder agreement
- Clear capital structure
- Aligned exit
Government Programmes
Industrial localisation incentives, capex grants, interest subsidies, free-zone benefits and agri-processing schemes that reduce effective project cost.
- Tenor
- Programme specific
- Ticket
- Grants 5% – 40% of capex
Best for: Projects in priority sectors, special economic zones or import-substitution plans
- Local registration
- Job creation targets
- Application windows
How financing is structured
1. Scope & budget
Technical scope and realistic capex band are fixed first — lenders price the project, not the wish list.
2. Route selection
We map which of the nine routes actually fit your country, sector, ticket size and sponsor profile.
3. Bankable package
Feasibility, offtake, DSCR model and equipment quotations assembled into a lender-ready file.
4. Introductions
Independent introductions to ECAs, DFIs, banks, lessors and equity partners — no exclusivity, no success fee to buyers.
Get a funding route assessment
Human-led, supplier-neutral and 100% free for buyers. We return the routes that realistically fit your project, with indicative tenors, equity requirements and documentation checklists.
Next steps
Put this into practice
Request machinery quotes
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