Cross-border renewable energy studies projects

The EU Funding Opportunity CEF-E-2026-CBRENEW-STUDIES is designed to finance studies related to Cross-Border Renewable Energy (CB-RES) projects, aligning with the Clean Industrial Deal, the Paris Agreement, and the EU's climate goals. This initiative falls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program, specifically targeting cooperative efforts between EU Member States and third countries.

The funding type is structured as CEF Project Grants, intended for studies that contribute towards the planning and development of renewable energy sources. The total budget allocated for this call is €150 million, and the submission process is a single-stage open call, scheduled to open on February 5, 2026, and closing on March 12, 2026.

Eligible applicants include project promoters from at least two EU Member States or those in collaboration with third countries, all operating under established cooperation frameworks. This requirement stresses the necessity of forming consortia that facilitate cross-border cooperation in renewable energy projects.

The target sector is renewable energy, covering technologies like onshore and offshore wind, solar, geothermal, and hybrid systems. Project stages targeted by this call can range from preparatory studies to advanced planning aimed at achieving a Final Investment Decision. Inclusion of pilot projects is possible, provided they relate specifically to the eligible project components.

While specific success rates for applications are not published, historical funding trends suggest a varying possibility of success among applicants. Co-funding is typically expected, reflecting a common practice in EU financing; however, this call does not detail explicit co-funding requirements.

The expected impact of this funding opportunity is to enhance regional cooperation in renewable energy, streamline the achievement of decarbonization goals, and bolster energy security within the EU. In addition, the successful proposals will help facilitate the development of comprehensive studies essential for implementing renewable energy projects that span national borders.

More detailed information, including evaluation processes and admissibility conditions, is outlined in the official call documentation, which must be carefully adhered to by applicants when preparing their submissions. Help and resources are available through the CINEA and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, which supports applicants throughout the process.

The EU Funding Opportunity CEF-E-2026-CBRENEW-STUDIES focuses on financing Cross-Border Renewable Energy (CB-RES) projects through studies. This initiative aligns with the Clean Industrial Deal, the Paris Agreement, the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets, and the goal of climate neutrality. It falls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) program, specifically the Cross-border renewables (CEF-E-2026-CBRENEW) call. The action type is CEF-PJG (CEF Project Grants), utilizing a CEF Action Grant Budget-Based [CEF-AG] Model Grant Agreement.

The call adopts a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 05 February 2026, and the deadline for submissions is 12 March 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected impact is to contribute to the cost-effective achievement of the goals and objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal, the Paris Agreement, the Union’s 2030 climate and energy targets, and the objective for climate neutrality. CB-RES projects are considered integral to regional and cross-border cooperation on renewables, facilitating cross-border energy cooperation as outlined in Article 3 of the CEF Regulation.

The objective is to promote cross-border cooperation between Member States, or between Member States and third countries, in planning, developing, and cost-effectively exploiting renewable energy sources. This includes integrating these sources through energy storage facilities, contributing to the Union’s long-term decarbonisation strategy, completing the internal energy market, and enhancing the security of supply, based on Article 7 and Annex Part IV of the CEF Regulation.

The scope of the call is centered on studies that contribute to the implementation of CB-RES projects. These studies, as defined in Article 2 of the CEF Regulation, encompass activities necessary for preparing cross-border RES project implementation. This includes preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing, and validation studies, including software. It also covers any other technical support measure, including prior action to define and develop a cross-border RES project and decide on its financing, such as exploration of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package. Studies may involve in-depth investigation and exploration of risk factors, such as safety, technical, environmental, regulatory, economic, or legal issues, to determine the feasibility and implementation strategy of the project.

While CEF Energy does not fund technological development, pilot projects, such as pilot plants, may be included in justified cases to test technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-8, innovative processes, or techniques. These pilot projects must be strictly related to eligible components of the CB-RES project.

For more mature projects, studies may aim to advance the project to a Final Investment Decision (FID). This can include Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies, technical design studies, geophysical surveys, seabed surveys, tasks related to territorial planning, environmental assessments, and comparable studies. Activities may also involve stakeholder engagement and preparation of the procurement procedure for the construction phase.

Studies can also detail the operational aspects of cooperation between Member States, or between Member States and third countries. This includes the precise legal setup of financing arrangements, such as cross-border tenders or the regulatory setup of cooperation projects, and arrangements for the allocation of costs and benefits between participating countries.

The list of components included in the CB-RES status for each project can be found in the technical documentation supporting the Delegated Regulation that establishes the CB-RES list. Proposals can cover any element of the CB-RES status project contained in this documentation.

While the study should focus on the renewable energy generation component, it may also cover the interplay between this component and additional elements such as grid infrastructure, storage facilities, and conversion of renewable electricity, if justified by the applicants to capture the project setup as a whole.

The admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout, as described in section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries are described in section 6 of the call document, along with other eligible conditions. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in section 7 of the call document.

The evaluation and award process, including submission and evaluation processes, is described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual. Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section 9 of the call document. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in section 4 of the call document. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in section 10 of the call document.

The call document and annexes include the call document itself, application form templates (Standard application form (CEF-E CBRENEW)), a detailed budget table per WP (CEF), a letter of support/MS agreement (CEF), a timetable (Gannt Chart) (CEF), and an environmental compliance file. Additional documents include the Work Programme 2021-2027 (CEF-E) and its annex, CEF Regulation 2021/1153, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget for this topic is EUR 150,000,000. The call is a single-stage process, with the opening date planned for 05 February 2026 and a deadline of 12 March 2026.

There are partner search announcements available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

For support, applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. For help related to the call, contact CINEA-CEF-ENERGY-CALLS@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this EU funding opportunity aims to support cross-border cooperation in renewable energy by financing studies that contribute to the implementation of CB-RES projects. It seeks to align with EU climate and energy goals, promote the integration of renewable energy sources, and enhance the security of energy supply. The call is open to Member States and third countries, and the studies can cover a wide range of activities, from preparatory work to detailed operational planning, and may include pilot projects under specific conditions. The application process involves adhering to specific admissibility conditions, providing detailed documentation, and following the guidelines outlined in the call document and related annexes.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the call requires cross-border cooperation between Member States, or between Member States and third countries, implying that eligible applicants could include government bodies, public organizations, private companies, research institutions, or other entities capable of engaging in cross-border projects. A letter of support/MS agreement is required, which suggests that Member States' agreement is needed.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CEF Project Grant (CEF-PJG) under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a CEF Action Grant Budget-Based [CEF-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires cross-border cooperation, indicating that a consortium of multiple applicants is necessary. The projects must promote cross-border cooperation between Member States, or between Member States and third countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and third countries, as the projects must promote cross-border cooperation between them.

Target Sector: The target sector is energy, specifically renewable energy sources (RES). The call focuses on cross-border renewable energy projects (CB-RES) and their integration with energy storage facilities and grid infrastructure.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and third countries in the context of cross-border cooperation.

Project Stage: The project stage can vary. The call supports studies for projects in early stages (preparatory, mapping, feasibility) and more mature projects aiming for a Final Investment Decision (FID), including Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies. Pilot projects at TRL 7-8 are also considered in justified cases.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic CEF-E-2026-CBRENEW-STUDIES and CEF-E-2026-CBRENEW-WORKS is EUR 150,000,000. The indicative number of grants is not specified.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to finance studies and potentially pilot projects related to cross-border renewable energy projects.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not specified in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity, under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), aims to finance cross-border renewable energy (CB-RES) projects through studies. The goal is to support projects that contribute to the Clean Industrial Deal, the Paris Agreement, the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets, and climate neutrality. The call encourages cooperation between EU Member States and third countries in planning, developing, and exploiting renewable energy sources, including their integration with energy storage and grid infrastructure.

The funding is provided as CEF Project Grants (CEF-PJG) and can support various project stages, from early preparatory studies to more mature projects aiming for a Final Investment Decision (FID). While technological development is not directly financed, pilot projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7-8 may be considered if they are strictly related to eligible components of the CB-RES project.

Eligible activities include preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing, and validation studies, as well as technical support measures, exploration of sites, and preparation of financial packages. For mature projects, activities may include Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies, technical design studies, geophysical and seabed surveys, territorial planning, and environmental assessments. Stakeholder engagement and preparation for procurement procedures are also eligible.

The application process is a single-stage open call. Applicants must demonstrate cross-border cooperation between Member States or between Member States and third countries. The total budget allocated for this call is EUR 150,000,000. The call aims to support the implementation of the EU's long-term decarbonization strategy, the completion of the internal energy market, and the enhancement of the security of energy supply.