Irish local authorities are amongst those that can benefit from a new call launched by the European City Facility which is EU-funded. The call offers €60,000 in lump-sum payments and hands-on support for local actors to develop investment concepts on clean energy and energy efficiency.
The call is open until 30 June, 2023. The opportunity is supported by the European Union’s LIFE Programme, and a total of 70 municipalities will benefit from the call.
This grant will allow beneficiaries to act on their needs related to developing investment concepts in support of their sustainable energy and climate plans.
Previously, beneficiaries have used the funding to conduct a wide variety of actions, including technical feasibility studies, market analyses, stakeholder planning, or legal, economic and financial analyses, but the specific action is up to the applicants, within the topical areas of clean energy or energy efficiency.
South East Energy Agency will be hosting an information webinar on May 31st at 12 pm to discuss the EUCF Fund under the new Life funding, and how to apply for the fund.
You can register for this webinar here.
Application process
Applying for the funding is simple and requirements are similar to previous calls and asks for proven political support, potential investment size, feasible energy-related impacts, and plans for governance structure and stakeholder engagement. This information is comparable to what’s needed before accessing most public funding or private financing.
The European City Facility ‘Irish Expert’ will present the key features and requirements of the call during an information session hosted by South East Energy Agency, open to local authorities and local public entities aggregating municipalities interested in applying for the 60.000 EUR. In addition, South East Energy Agency is there to answer specific questions on the applications process, and can be reached directly at ce.ireland@eucityfacility.eu.
For the chosen beneficiaries the offer from the European City Facility goes beyond the funding, and includes capacity building, matchmaking offers and dedicated financing tools, all pushing a project idea one step closer to being matched with either private or public financing.
The deadline for applying is 17.00 CEST on 30th June 2023.
More information is available on https://www.eucityfacility.eu/5th-call
Contact details
Alexandra Hamilton (Country Expert): ahamilton@southeastenergy.ie
Colin Healy (Communications): chealy@southeastenergy.ie / ce.ireland@eucityfacility.eu
About the European City Facility
Municipalities, local authorities, and local public entities are the driver of the European sustainable energy transition. With the tremendous potential to build comprehensive sustainable investment programmes, they also play a key role in pooling smaller projects into larger investment portfolios and in mobilising significant financial resources required for the energy transition.
Originally set up under the EU’s Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, and now funded by the EU’s LIFE Programme, the EUCF unlocks this local potential and support municipalities, local authorities, their groupings and local public entities aggregating municipalities/local authorities in Europe with tailor-made, fast and simplified financial support (in the form of EUR 60,000 lump sums) and related services to enable them to develop relevant investment concepts related to the implementation of actions identified in their climate and energy action plans.
Successful applicants to the EUCF have used the lump sum to develop their investment concepts, which represents an initial step towards a fully-fledged business and financial plan. The ultimate objective is to build a substantial pipeline of sustainable energy investment projects across Europe and to inspire other local authorities and public entities to develop bankable investment concepts.
In addition to the core team, the European City Facility is also supported by a national across Europe. Find your local contact on the European City Facility website: www.eucityfacility.eu