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[[File:Energy Share.png|thumb|left|Share of energy from renewable sources in Member States.]]
===Accessibility to Sustainable Technology===
Another issue with making sustainable technology more accessible to the consumer and to businesses is the lack of easily digestible information available. Often new developments in energy are a result of complex science, which is at first very hard for certain parties to grasp, whereas wind and solar energy, which are both now established forms of sustainable energy are more familiar to consumers and therefore more likely to be appealing when investing in sustainable energy, especially energy possibilities that are a result of SME innovation. As part of [[Horizon 2020work programme]] the European Union has recognised the need for consumers needing to be at the heart of the energy discussion and therefore need to be further engaged.<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/ee-06-2016-2017.html</ref> There also arguably needs to be more discussion between Member States and other European countries regarding knowledge sharing in the area of sustainable energy. This was discussed in the G20 action plan,<ref>https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/news/g20-energy-ministers-meeting-focuses-sustainable-energy-access-energy-efficiency-and-renewables</ref> but as of yet the EU has not legislated on this.
===Funding Through the EU===
A number of EU bodies give help and funding to SMEs and startups, for example the EIB borrows money on capital markets and lends it on favourable terms to a number of parties, including SMEs and startups through their role as shareholder in the EIF, which provides funding to such enterprises through venture capital and risk finance instruments. Other EIF products include venture capital and micro-financing for SMEs, particularly new and innovative companies, and guarantees for financial institutions, to cover loans to SMEs.
Furthermore, [[Fusion for Europe Energy (F4E)]] provides help in the form of grants and procurement contracts for small and medium-sized businesses in the area of research into fusion energy. This is an example of a body set up specifically to provide easier access to development funds in a specific form of sustainable energy – in this case fusion. However, there are few other bodies that provide aid in other forms of energy such as solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy, for instance. Another example, however, is the [[Clean Sky 2]] programme, which partners with SMEs involved in aeronautics in order to reduce aircraft emissions by developing innovative technologies to cut CO2 and other greenhouse gases and reduce noise.
===Development of SMEs===
===Research===
Further to this, in the sphere of research, the World Bank – on top of their call for decarbonisation – has released what it sees as the three steps to a decarbonised future.<ref>http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/180621468182344481/pdf/96410-WP-Box391444B-PUBLIC-Decarbonizing-Development-Overview.pdf</ref> Documents and strategies such as this are being backed up by industry leaders such as Freek Bisschop who is the CEO of Rockstart, a company that supports startups such as Solarcreed and Solarpro, which provide further access and innovation in the field of sustainable and renewable energy. He has said ‘tomorrow’s energy is decentralised, decarbonised, and digital’<ref>https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/10-smart-energy-startups-watch-2017/</ref> a future that can perhaps only be achieved by the innovation of startups and further freedom for the consumer to become involved in sustainable living, renewable energy, and ultimately decarbonisation. Therefore the EU must surely support this and not be afraid to be at the forefront of innovation in this area by allowing those SMEs and startups involved in sustainability to grow.
== References ==