CEF Energy: supporting cross-border projects boosting the use of renewables

In the pursuit of delivering the European Green Deal and achieving the EU’s decarbonisation objectives for 2030 and 2050, the European Union has been actively investing in energy infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy (CEF Energy).

On the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of the CEF Energy programme, we want to put the spotlight on projects supported by this funding instrument that stand out as a crucial link in strengthening the energy landscape of different regions. This time we focus on cross-border projects aiming to boost the use of renewables, such as Eneregio SOBOS (exploring the potential of district heating) and CICERONE (looking at developing green hydrogen and ammonia infrastructure). 

The Eneregio SOBOS study

Promoted by Regionalwerk Chiemgau-rupertiwinkel, the Eneregio SOBOS study received EUR 200.000 of EU funding under the 2021 CEF Energy call for preparatory studies. The goal was to analyse the potential and feasibility of a cross-border heating system that would be supplied by waste energy from local industry as well as by geothermal and bioenergy plants. The geographical scope of the study covered parts of southern Germany (Bavaria) and Austria (Upper Austria and Salzburg).

Next steps

As a result of the Eneregio SOBOS study, a cross-border renewable energy project will be defined, relying on data collection of heat sources and sinks/heat demands in the industry and customer sectors.

The study has confirmed the expected potential and the supra-regional district heating could lead to over 2 TWh of heat being supplied from sustainable sources, hence reducing regional reliance on fossil fuels and reducing GHG emissions. 

The project promoters plan to apply to obtain the CB RES status under CEF Energy to be eligible for further funding opportunities in order to implement the project, which will tap into the geological potential for renewable energy deployment and enable the cross-border and year-round use of CO2-free heat for the supply for the entire districts, thus leading to the diversification of the heat supply, reduction of regional reliance from fossil fuels and ultimately of the dependence on energy imports from outside the EU.

CICERONEGreenNH3stud

The CICERONEGreenNH3stud projectwas included in the CB RES list in 2022, which made the project eligible for the EUR 3,4 million that received in 2023. 

The EU funding allowed CICERONEGreenNH3stud to launch an articulated study covering the environmental assessment, the market study and the engineering design needed for the construction of a renewable energy sources, electrolyser and green ammonia infrastructure to be installed and managed in Spain. 

Next steps

The study, coordinated by IBERDROLA, is part of a wider project aiming at building an integrated industrial scale cross-border European green hydrogen and ammonia value chain under the broader “CEO-Alliance” initiative by 2028. As such, the CICERONE value chain will consist of independent but highly interconnected infrastructure assets located in different EU member states. To reach the development of a European cross-border value chain, the CICERONE project aims to build > 800 MW of additional renewable energy (mainly PV) in Spain and Italy, a 120 MW green ammonia installation in Spain and an ammonia terminal and cracking facility in Rotterdam.

The overarching goal of this project is to contribute to decarbonise relevant industrial areas and to create a competitive green energy market.

Conclusion

Both projects, thanks to CEF Energy funding, promote cross-border cooperation between Member States in the field of planning, development and the cost-effective exploitation of renewable energy sources. They also facilitate their integration through energy storage facilities and with the aim of contributing to the Union’s long term decarbonisation strategy, completing the internal energy market and enhancing the security of supply.