Clean Energy Transition

Building on the success of the Intelligent Energy Europe (2003-2013) and Horizon 2020 Energy Efficiency (2014-2020) programmes, the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme continues to support the delivery of EU policies in the field of sustainable energy, in particular, the European Green Deal, the Energy Union (2030 energy and climate targets) and the European Union’s 2050 long-term decarbonisation strategy.

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme has a budget of nearly EUR 1 billion over the period of 2021-2027 and aims at facilitating the transition towards an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy by funding coordination and support actions (Other Action Grants) across Europe. These are actions of high EU added-value, which are targeted at breaking market barriers that hamper the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy, and typically engage multiple small and medium-sized stakeholders, multiple actors including local and regional public authorities and non-profit organisations, as well as consumers.

Projects are co-financed under the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme in the following five areas of intervention:

• Building a national, regional and local policy framework supporting the clean energy transition; 
• Accelerating technology roll-out, digitalisation, new services and business models and enhancement of the related professional skills on the market; 
• Attracting private finance for sustainable energy; 
• Supporting the development of local and regional investment projects;
• Involving and empowering citizens in the clean energy transition.

All LIFE calls for proposals, including LIFE Clean energy transition, are published on CINEA's website as well as the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders portal.

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition Call 2023 (2023 Call document) has EUR 99 million available for 13 funding topics to support the clean energy transition in Europe in areas such as:

• Technical support to clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions 
• Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy 
• Maximizing use of and valorising EPREL data through innovative applications
• Energy Performance of Buildings - Creating the conditions to make renovation faster, deeper, smarter, service and data-driven
• Supporting the clean energy transition of the European businesses
• BUILD UP Skills – Upskilling and reskilling interventions enabling a decarbonised building stock and energy system integration
• Boosting heat pump deployment through alternative models and skilled installers
• District heating and cooling: Enabling modernisation and fuel switch through support for investment plans and skills development
• Crowding in private finance
• Integrated services for clean energy transition in buildings and businesses
• Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investments
• Alleviating household energy poverty and vulnerability in Europe
• European Energy Communities Facility

Proposals can only be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders portal.

Information including the legislation and rules for participation, templates for proposals, evaluations, and project reporting can be accessed on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Guidance on the application process, evaluation and grant signature, grant management, and working as an expert are available on the Funding & Tender portal.

On 1 June 2023, CINEA organised a special information session on the call for LIFE 2023 Clean energy transition.

Plenary presentations: 

• Agenda (Introduction)
• Policy update (Pierluca MEROLA)
• Introduction to LIFE Clean Energy Transition (Anette JAHN)
• How to make an excellent proposal? (Zoe WILDIERS - Ulrike NUSCHELER)
• LIFE CET: Financial element (Licinia PEREIRA)

Clean Energy Transition 2023 Info Day and Plenary videos:

• Playlist - LIFE 2023 Clean Energy Transition #EULife23 INFO DAYS
• Plenary video

The videos and presentations for the 13 funding topics are available via the topic links under the call for proposals section above.

Project proposals submitted under LIFE calls are evaluated and scored against selection and award criteria.

CINEA appoints external experts to assist in the evaluation of grant applications, projects and tenders.

If you are interested, please register in the European Commission's database of independent experts.

LIFE Clean Energy Transition supports a number of initiatives to promote the uptake of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions:

• European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW)
• Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum – Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place
• Sustainable Energy Investment Forum 
• BUILD UP portal
• BUILD UP Skills
• ManagEnergy
• European City Facility
• Policy support initiatives

Horizon 2020 was the EU's funding programme for research and innovation from 2014 to 2020.

Horizon 2020 Energy Efficiency provided support for innovation through: research and demonstration of more energy-efficient technologies and solutions; and market uptake measures to remove market and governance barriers by addressing financing, regulations and the improvement of skills and knowledge.

There are still more than 200 H2020 Energy Efficiency projects ongoing in the areas of: consumers; buildings; public authorities and policy support; industry, products and services; heating and cooling; and innovative financing.