PSLF-PROJECTS

The Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF) under the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) offers financial support for public sector projects in EU regions undergoing changes to achieve a low-carbon economy. The PSLF is aimed at addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges as part of the EU's climate neutrality goals by 2050, with a total budget of €1.46 billion allocated for 2022 to 2025.

Eligible applicants include public sector bodies such as regional and local governments and national authorities from all 27 EU Member States, as well as private entities entrusted with public service missions. The funding mechanism combines grants, specifically JTM Lump Sum Grants, with loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) or its intermediaries.

Projects must align with the objectives set out in approved Territorial Just Transition Plans, focusing on sustainable investments in sectors like renewable energy, green mobility, smart waste management, energy efficiency, urban renewal, biodiversity, and social infrastructure. Excluded sectors include nuclear power, fossil fuel-related activities, and assistance to struggling undertakings unless under specific state aid rules.

Applications are invited through an open call with multiple cut-off dates, spanning from October 19, 2022, to September 11, 2025, allowing for submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The application process involves several evaluation stages, where proposals are assessed based on relevance and impact.

Funding amounts vary, with grants ranging from €9 million to over €100 million per project. There is a requirement for co-funding, where projects must qualify for EIB loans as the EU grant is intended to cover portions of the funding gap rather than full project costs.

The program encourages collaboration through partner search announcements, highlighting the significance of projects that not only fulfill EU climate ambitions but also support communities most affected by the transition to a greener economy. Examples of funded projects include significant infrastructure initiatives in various EU Member States.

In summary, the PSLF is tailored to foster sustainable development across Europe, ensuring that investments support both the environment and the socio-economic fabric of regions impacted by necessary transformations towards climate neutrality.

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) Public Sector Loan Facility Call (PSLF) (JTM-2022-2025-PSLF) is a call for proposals for projects that address social, economic, and environmental challenges related to the EU's transition to climate neutrality by 2050. The call is open for submission with multiple cut-off dates, with the first deadline on 19 October 2022 and subsequent deadlines extending until 11 September 2025. The total budget for this call is 1,459,500,000 EUR.

The call aims to support projects that contribute to the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets and the objective of climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. These projects should benefit EU territories identified in the Territorial Just Transition Plans and must also qualify for a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) or one of its financial intermediaries.

Eligible projects include a wide range of sustainable investments, such as:

Investments in renewable energy and green and sustainable mobility, including the promotion of green hydrogen.
Efficient district heating networks.
Public research.
Digitalisation.
Environmental infrastructure for smart waste and water management.
Sustainable energy, energy efficiency, and integration measures, including renovations and conversions of buildings.
Urban renewal and regeneration.
The transition to a circular economy.
Land and ecosystem restoration and decontamination, taking into account the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
Biodiversity.
Up-skilling and re-skilling, training.
Social infrastructure, including care facilities and social housing.

Infrastructure development may also include cross-border projects and solutions leading to enhanced resilience to withstand ecological disasters, in particular those accentuated by climate change. A comprehensive investment approach should be favored, in particular for territories with important transition needs. Investments in other sectors may also be supported, if they are consistent with the approved Territorial Just Transition Plans.

Sectors excluded from JTM PSLF support include:

Decommissioning or construction of nuclear power stations.
Manufacturing, processing, and marketing of tobacco and tobacco products.
Help to undertakings in difficulty, unless authorized under temporary State aid rules.
Investments related to the production, processing, transport, distribution, storage, or combustion of fossil fuel.

Project activities must benefit a territory covered by an approved Territorial Just Transition Plan and must be consistent with this Plan and the sectors and thematic areas it sets out.

Key dates and deadlines:

Opening date: 19 July 2022.
Multiple cut-off dates: 19 October 2022, 19 January 2023, 19 April 2023, 20 September 2023, 17 January 2024, 17 April 2024, 19 September 2024, 16 January 2025, 15 April 2025, 11 September 2025 (all at 17:00:00 Brussels time).

The call document has been updated on several occasions: 12 September (budget revision), 25 September 2023 (EIB loan amounts and budget hyperlink), and 2 June 2023 (project duration).

The call provides funding under two types of action: JTM-2022-2025-PSLF-LOAN-SCHEMES (JTM-LS) and JTM-2022-2025-PSLF-STANDALONE-PROJECTS (JTM-LS), both utilizing JTM Lump Sum Grants.

Applicants are encouraged to use the partner search announcements to find collaborators.

To apply, applicants must access the Electronic Submission Service through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Several documents are required for the application, including the call document, standard application form, financial information file calculator, simplified business plan, JTM Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (MGA), JTM Work Programme, JTM Regulation 2021/1229, Commission Decision on eligible regions, EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, and various guidance documents.

Funded projects under this topic include:

Extension of the North South tram of Marseille phase 1 (2023-4-FR-SP-ETNS1101157576).
Sustainable Mobility Infrastructures for Low Emissions and qualitative Service (2023-4-FR-SP-SMILES101157309).
Mijnwater scale up Masterplan phase 1 (2023-4-NL-SP-Mijnwater101157427).
MEL in GREEN MObility (2023-4-FR-SP-GREENMO101156929).
Ostrava Concert Hall (2023-4-CZ-SP-KS101156888).

The JTM Public Sector Loan Facility Call is designed to mobilize investments that support the transition to a climate-neutral economy, focusing on regions and communities most affected by this transition. It combines EU grants with EIB loans to bridge the funding gap for projects that may not generate sufficient revenue on their own but are crucial for achieving the EU's climate and energy targets. The call encourages projects that address social, economic, and environmental challenges, promoting sustainable development, creating new opportunities, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener future.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are public sector entities or private bodies entrusted with a public service mission established in an EU Member State.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically JTM Lump Sum Grants (JTM LS). This is combined with a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) or one of its financial intermediaries, making it a blending facility.

Consortium Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, it mentions partner search announcements, suggesting that while not mandatory, consortia are possible and perhaps encouraged. The call is open to single applicants as well.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on EU territories identified in the Territorial Just Transition Plans. The project activities must benefit a territory covered by an approved Territorial Just Transition Plan.

Target Sector: The program targets a wide range of sustainable investments, including renewable energy, green and sustainable mobility (including green hydrogen), efficient district heating networks, public research, digitalization, environmental infrastructure for smart waste and water management, sustainable energy, energy efficiency and integration measures (including renovations and conversions of buildings), urban renewal and regeneration, the transition to a circular economy, land and ecosystem restoration and decontamination, biodiversity, up-skilling and re-skilling, training, and social infrastructure (including care facilities and social housing). Sectors explicitly excluded are decommissioning or construction of nuclear power stations, manufacturing/processing/marketing of tobacco, help to undertakings in difficulty (unless authorized under temporary State aid rules), and investments related to fossil fuels.

Mentioned Countries: France, Netherlands, Czech Republic.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be aimed at infrastructure development, urban renewal, and implementation of sustainable technologies, suggesting projects that are in the development, validation, demonstration, or commercialization stages.

Funding Amount: The total budget is EUR 1,459,500,000. The grant amount is a lump sum, determined as 15% or 25% of the EIB loan amount, depending on the project and location. The EIB loan will cover 50% or more of the project costs, especially in less developed regions.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves several stages, including admissibility checks, eligibility checks, financial and operational capacity assessment, and evaluation based on relevance/impact and quality criteria. The specific number of stages isn't explicitly stated but can be inferred from the conditions and evaluation sections.

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

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. The projects must qualify for a loan from the EIB or its financial intermediaries, and the EU grant serves to bridge the funding gap, not cover the entire project cost.

Summary: This opportunity is a call under the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF), designed to support projects that address social, economic, and environmental challenges related to the EU's transition to climate neutrality by 2050. It provides lump sum grants combined with loans from the EIB or its financial intermediaries to public sector entities or private bodies with a public service mission. The projects must be located in EU territories identified in the Territorial Just Transition Plans and align with the plan's objectives. The call targets a wide range of sustainable investments, excluding certain sectors like nuclear and fossil fuels. The application process involves multiple cut-off dates and requires applicants to demonstrate the project's impact, quality, and alignment with the EU's climate and energy targets. The EU grant serves to bridge the funding gap, not cover the entire project cost.