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The LIFE calls for coordination and support actions (CSAs) under the Clean Energy Transition sub-programme has been recently launched. The scope is to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and resilient economy by focusing in particular on the following objectives:

• develop, demonstrate and promote innovative techniques, methods and approaches to achieve the objectives of EU legislation and policy on the transition to sustainable renewable energy and contribute to the knowledge base and the application of best practices;
• support the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU legislation and policy on the transition to sustainable renewable energy, by improving governance at all levels and specifically strengthening the capacities of public and private actors and the involvement of civil society;
• catalyse the large-scale deployment of successful technical and policy solutions for the implementation of EU legislation on the renewable energy transition by replicating results, integrating related objectives into other policies and practices of the public and private sectors, mobilising investment and improving access to finance.

The call concerns 13 topics grouped around the 5 themes in which the sub-program is divided.

THEME 1: Establishing a national, regional and local policy framework to support the clean energy transition

Topic 1 – Technical support to clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-LOCAL)

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 1.75 million.

Budget: € 8 million

Topic 2 – Towards effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-POLICY)

This topic includes 3 areas:

A: The Energy Efficiency Directive

B: The Renewable Energy Directive

C: The Building Performance Directive

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 2 million.

Budget: € 8 million

Topic 3 – Maximizing the use and exploitation of EPREL data through innovative applications (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-EPREL)

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 2.5 million.

Budget: € 2.5 million

THEME 2: Accelerating the deployment of technologies, digitalisation, new services and business models by strengthening their professional skills on the market for the clean energy transition

Topic 4 – Energy performance of buildings – Creating the conditions for faster, deeper, smarter, more service- and data-oriented renovations (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-BETTERRENO)

This topic includes 3 areas:

A: Facilitating large-scale deep renovation

B: Regulatory and administrative framework

C: Energy data and services for buildings

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 2 million.

Budget: € 11 million

Topic 5 – Supporting the clean energy transition of the business sector (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-BUSINESS)

This topic includes 2 areas:

A. Strengthening an ecosystem conducive to energy audits and energy management systems

B. Promoting energy cooperation between enterprises

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 1.75 million.

Budget: € 6 million

Topic 6 – BUILD UP Skills – Upgrading and upgrading interventions that allow a decarbonized building heritage and the integration of energy systems (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-BUILDSKILLS)

Indicative contribution per project: between EUR 1 and 1.5 million.

Budget: € 6 million

Topic 7 – Increasing the diffusion of heat pumps through alternative models and qualified installers (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-HEATPUMPS)

This topic includes 2 areas:

A: Alternative commercial and supply models

B: Addressing the shortage of installers and qualified heat pump professionals

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 1.75 million.

Budget: € 6.5 million

Topic 8 – District heating and cooling: enabling fuel modernisation and changeover through support for investment plans and skills development (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-DHC)

This topic includes 2 areas:

A: technical support for the development of investment plans for the modernization, fuel change and integration of existing district heating systems.

B: Development of the skills of professionals, operators and public authorities.

Indicative contribution per project: Area A: up to EUR 1.75 million; Area B: up to €1.5 million.

Budget: € 6.5 million

THEME 3: Attracting private finance for sustainable energy

Topic 9 – Crowding in private finance (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-PRIVAFIN)

This topic includes 2 areas:

A: Innovative financing schemes

B: Integration of finance for sustainable energy

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 1.5 million.

Budget: € 6.5 million

THEME 4. Support the development of investment projects at local and regional level

Topic 10 – Integrated services for the clean energy transition in buildings and businesses (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-OSS)

This topic includes 4 areas:

A: Integrated home renovation services

B: Integrated services for the energy retrofitting of private rented accommodation

C: Integrated services for the clean energy transition in public buildings

D: Integrated services for the clean energy transition of companies

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 1.5 million.

Budget: € 15 million

Topic 11 – Assistance for the development of sustainable energy investment projects (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-PDA)

Indicative contribution per project: between EUR 0.5 and 1.5 million.

Budget: € 7 million

THEME 5: Engaging and empowering citizens in the clean energy transition

Topic 12 – Relieving energy poverty and household vulnerability in Europe (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-ENERPOV)

Indicative contribution per project: between EUR 1.5 and 2 million.

Budget: € 6 million

Topic 13 – European Energy Communities Mechanism (ID: LIFE-2023-CET-ENERCOMFACILITY)

Indicative contribution per project: up to EUR 10 million.

Budget: € 10 million

Eligible participants 

Legal entities, public and private, established in one of the countries eligible for LIFE, i.e. EU states, including OCTs, and some other countries (the updated list can be downloaded here); international organizations.

For most topics, a project proposal must be submitted by a partnership of at least 3 beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries. Exceptions are the topics: LIFE-2023-CET-BUILDSKILLS, LIFE-2023-CET-OSS, LIFE-2023-CET-PDA for which a project proposal can submitted by the proposer alone.

Project proposals must be submitted using the specific documentation of the reference topic.

In principle a project proposal must focus on only one of the areas; If a proposal covers more than one area, the added value of a cross-cutting approach must be adequately explained.

Funding 

The EU contribution can cover up to 95% of the project costs (for the different topics the indicative value of the amount of funding that the Commission expects to disburse per project is specified)

Deadline: 16 November 2023, 5 pm (Brussels time)

Written by: Margherita Genua