600 applications were submitted to the European Energy Communities Facility's second call for proposals, which closed yesterday, 5 July, after being open for two months. From these applications, the Facility will select at least 71 beneficiaries. The results will be announced in the first half of October 2026, and selected projects will start working on their business plan between December 2026 and January 2027.
Looking at both calls together, the Facility has received almost 1,300 applications to support 144 energy communities in the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine. This overwhelming response has far exceeded the consortium's expectations and demonstrates the strong demand for a funding instrument specifically designed to support the early stages of energy communities.
As small local actors, energy communities often struggle to access large public funding programmes, such as the ELENA programme, EU funding, or other investment opportunities. They are frequently considered too small or too risky, while funding schemes often require minimum investment thresholds that are beyond their reach. In addition, many energy communities rely on volunteers who have limited time and resources to navigate complex funding applications.
As a result, many promising initiatives face a significant gap between the initial idea – often born around a table during community discussions – and the successful implementation of a sustainable and secure energy project. The Facility was created to bridge this gap by supporting energy communities throughout the development of a robust business plan, helping them build the foundations needed to turn their vision into reality. The exceptional interest shown in both calls confirms that the Facility is fulfilling this role successfully.
The selected beneficiaries will receive a €45,000 grant to develop their business plan. They will also benefit from a self-paced capacity-building programme, dedicated webinars, and a range of practical resources designed to strengthen their knowledge and skills.
In addition, beneficiaries will become part of a growing network of energy communities, allowing them to exchange experiences, learn from one another's challenges and successes, and build valuable peer-to-peer support.
By 2028, around 140 energy communities will have developed robust business plans, giving them the strategic foundation needed to attract investment, secure further funding, and bring their sustainable energy projects to life. Through a total investment of approximately €6.5 million, provided as 144 lump-sum grants of €45,000 each, the Facility will help beneficiaries turn their ideas into viable projects. This support is expected to unlock around €120 million in private investment, demonstrating the Facility's significant multiplier effect and its potential to accelerate the energy transition across Europe.
What are the next steps?
The evaluation process will begin in July and continue until early October 2026. It will be performed by two consultancies from the project consortium, Ecorys and Ricardo, applying the four-eyes principle.
Following the selection process, successful applicants will sign their Grant Agreements. Between December 2026 and January 2027, beneficiaries will officially start developing their business plans while participating in the Facility's capacity-building programme.