Call: Technical support to clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions

The specific objectives of the sub-programme "Clean Energy Transition" are the following:

• to develop, demonstrate and promote innovative techniques, methods and approaches for reaching the objectives of Union legislation and policy on the transition to sustainable renewable energy and increased energy efficiency, and to contribute to the knowledge base and to the application of best practice;
• to support the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of relevant Union legislation and policy on the transition to sustainable renewable energy or increased energy efficiency, including by improving governance at all levels, in particular through enhancing capacities of public and private actors and the involvement of civil society;
• to catalyse the large-scale deployment of successful technical and policy-related solutions for implementing relevant Union legislation on the transition to renewable energy or increased energy efficiency by replicating results, integrating related objectives into other policies and into public and private sector practices, mobilising investment and improving access to finance.

This sub-programme will fund the activities responding to the specific topics defined in the annual calls for proposals which are based on the list of priority topics. Other activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy, which do not address the specific requirements of the calls defined under this sub-programme can be submitted to the calls under the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme.

The sub-programme will aim at facilitating the transition toward an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy by funding coordination and support actions across Europe. These actions aim at breaking market barriers that hamper the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy, typically engaging multiple small and medium-size stakeholders, multiple actors including local and regional public authorities and non-profit organisations, and involving consumers.

The sub-programme will contribute to the implementation of the energy-related actions of the European Green Deal, including the ‘Renovation wave’ initiative for the building sector and will give due consideration to territories not connected to the European grids such as the EU outermost regions. It will contribute to the Just Transition objectives by accompanying the territories and the groups of citizens negatively affected by the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, by building capacity of actors and fostering clean energy investments, mainly in energy efficiency and locally available, sustainable, renewable energy sources. Activities related to technology development will not be included.

A significant part of this budget will be used to finance Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) under OAs grants for the four year period, whereas the possibility to finance SAPs is only foreseen as from 2023.

It will cover the following areas of intervention:

• Building a national, regional and local policy framework supporting the clean energy transition:

Increasing coherence of energy transition governance at different levels by enhancing multi-stakeholder dialogue and building the capacity of public authorities to deliver under the national energy and climate plans and/or other plans and strategies (e.g. just transition plans, long-term renovation strategies, strategies for the electrification of the transport system). Supporting the development and effective implementation of clean energy policies, including the relevant Union legislation on products and energy consumers, in the EU and third countries. Supporting actions that put into practice the enabling provisions included in the European legislation on clean energy.

• Accelerating technology roll-out, digitalisation, new services and business models and enhancement of the related professional skills on the market for the clean energy transition:

Providing support for the decarbonisation of the buildings, industry and tertiary sectors, by fostering market uptake of innovative solutions, including digitalization and circular design in line with the climate neutrality target. Accelerating the clean energy transition by enabling the development of new added-value services and innovative business models. The roll-out of technologies and innovative solutions needs to be accompanied by measures addressing market barriers including support to the development and deployment of new skills and frameworks (labels, certificates, technological and non-technological standards, e.g. for interoperability, etc.).

• Attracting private finance for sustainable energy:

To upscale investments in sustainable energy, different capital flows need to be made available by addressing both supply and demand of finance, and by using public funds effectively. Supply side activities include: data collection, methodology and evidence-based risk management; harmonisation of definition and measuring of sustainable investments; development of innovative financing mechanisms, products, services and practices; standardisation and aggregation of projects and investments; simplification of the process for investors; capacity building and dialogue. Activities should contribute to EU policy and legislation in the field of sustainable finance.

• Supporting the development of local and regional investment projects:

Build capacity of local public authorities and private investors, notably community collective investors. Facilitate dialogue with the financial sector to deliver sustainable energy investments, including tailored actions contributing to a fair society and to a just energy transition in EU regions most dependent on fossil fuels or carbon intensive processes. Promote public procurement of energy and resource efficient works, supplies and services. Support tailored approaches for local actors to develop investment concepts, implement organisational innovations and aggregate projects. Improve market conditions and develop new integrated services offers for sustainable energy in buildings, transport, ports, and SMEs.

• Involving and empowering citizens in the clean energy transition:

Support citizens in taking an active role in the clean energy transition, including targeted support for collective actions, community and citizen-led initiatives and development of new energy services and social innovations. Strengthen collaboration between local authorities and citizen-led initiatives. Support actions that contribute to alleviate energy poverty. Foster energy literacy and sustainable energy behaviour of citizens, in particular younger generations.

Objective

The topic aims to provide local and regional authorities with the necessary capacity to deliver and implement plans and strategies for the clean energy transition. To successfully support the achievement of European energy and climate targets, transition plans and strategies need to be institutionalised, cross-sectoral and tailored to the level of innovation, ambition and specific geographic context of the involved authorities.

Local and regional authorities are a decisive lever for the EU to achieve its 2030 climate and energy targets as set out in the European Climate Law and the relevant ‘Fit for 55’ legislative revisions, as well as the carbon neutrality objective by 2050. Policy-makers and administrations at all sub-national levels need to commit to and effectively plan and implement the clean energy transition in their territories at an unprecedented level of ambition and pace with a long-term carbon-neutral horizon. Local and regional authorities also have a very relevant role to play in the framework of the REPowerEU plan to phase out EU dependence on fossil fuels imports, as the case for a rapid clean energy transition across EU Member States has never been stronger and clearer.

However, in some cases local and regional authorities lack capacities to develop and implement such plans and strategies, including small municipalities, rural and isolated areas and carbon-intensive regions that are lagging behind in the clean energy transition, and have the potential to have a high impact in reducing their fossil fuels consumptions. Many municipalities still need support to design medium and long-term transition plans and strategies, such as Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans – SECAPs – or similar. Furthermore, existing plans and strategies need to be aligned to the updated European energy and climate targets and, in turn, deliver more ambitious actions in the short, medium and long term. Therefore, development and reinforcement of skills within local and regional authorities are needed, for instance through training programmes for policy-makers and public officers, which could be tailored to their specific needs; through development of long-lasting knowledge structures; or through replication and rollout of best practices and information tools, etc.

Another challenge commonly faced by local and regional authorities is the holistic energy planning required to deliver the clean energy transition. A successful and fair clean energy transition requires an integrated approach in planning and implementing the appropriate measures, supported by robust and long-lasting coordination structures and appropriate resources. These elements would lead to mainstreaming the carbon neutrality goal within all relevant sectors (energy production and consumption, buildings, district heating, mobility and transport, land-use, waste, water, health, etc.), mutually reinforcing sectoral policies and improving the efficiency of the planning processes. Moreover, enabling the participation of public and private stakeholders, including citizens and/or communities, would be critical to consolidate a sustained political commitment beyond electoral cycles.

Clean energy transition plans and strategies should reflect high levels of ambition (tailored to the specific geographical, societal or political context) and/or consider the application of innovative elements through local pilots, for instance transition management, carbon budgets, decentralisation of energy production, or green procurement practices. Moreover, they should be fully in line with the energy efficiency first principle; the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs); the EU Green Deal and its initiatives such as the Renovation Wave; the transposition of the ‘Fit for 55’ legislative revisions into national laws – in particular the Recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive, which calls for municipalities to set up local heating and cooling plans; the national Long-Term Renovation Strategies; the European Climate Pact; the Covenant of Mayors; the National Recovery and Resilience Plans and the Regional and National Programmes under the Cohesion Policy Funds; the Horizon Europe mission on climate-neutral and smart cities; the REPowerEU plan to phase out EU dependence on fossil fuels imports, and any other relevant elements of the EU and national climate and energy policy frameworks, in order to contribute to the 2030 and 2050 EU energy and climate targets.

Scope

Proposals should address one or both of the following areas of work:

• Actions should provide support to regional and local authorities and build their capacities to deliver, implement and monitor ambitious short and medium-term clean energy plans and strategies for 2030 – with a potential to pave the way for the 2050 carbon neutrality goal - in coherence with EU and national energy and climate targets and frameworks. Actions should focus at implementing the right mix of activities that will build/increase the technical, legal and social skills among local and regional authorities.
• Actions should aim at institutionalising holistic, integrated and collaborative energy planning in local and regional authorities, seeking approaches that facilitate the integration of clean energy, and thus reduce fossil fuels consumption, with other relevant sectors, supported by relevant coordination structures. The aim is to professionalise and accelerate the planning and implementation processes, and support higher ambition, while enabling and increasing the participation and engagement of all the relevant public and private stakeholders.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 1.5 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected Impact

Proposals should result in providing capacity to local and regional authorities for delivering and implementing plans and strategies for the clean energy transition.

Proposals should quantify their impacts using the indicators listed below, where relevant, as well as other project-specific performance indicators:

• Number of policies/plans/strategies established through the action.
• Number of policy-makers/public officers with improved capacity/skills.
• Number of institutionalised collaborations/exchanges within and beyond public authorities, including peers, private stakeholders and/or civil society.
• Number of public and private stakeholders engaged.
• Secured political commitment and resources.
• Primary energy savings and renewable energy generation triggered by the project (in GWh/year) to be delivered by clean energy transition plans/strategies developed through the action.
• Investments in sustainable energy triggered by the project (cumulative, in million Euro).

These impacts should be demonstrated during the project and within 5 years after the project lifetime.

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

• be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
  • non-EU countries:
    • please see the List of Participating Countries in LIFE for an up-to-date list of countries with which the association agreements have started to produce legal effects (either through provisional application or their entry into force).
• the coordinator must be established in an eligible country

Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).

International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.

Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.

Proposal page limits and layout:

Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents:

• Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants and the summarised budget for the project
• Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project
• Part C containing additional project data
• mandatory annexes and supporting documents:
  • detailed budget table
  • participant information
• optional annexes: letters of support

Page limit - Part B: 65 pages

Topic budget: EUR 7,000,000.00