The European Energy Communities Facility team is excited to announce the selected projects of our first call for proposals. Following a highly competitive selection process, 73 energy communities have been awarded with a €45,000 grant — representing a total funding of more than €3 million from the European Union’s LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme. In addition to the grant, selected initiatives will also receive support from the Facility to develop a robust business plan, helping them move closer to implementation and long-term financial sustainability.
The call attracted almost 700 applications from all over Europe, confirming the strong demand for early-stage funding for community energy projects and the crucial role of initiatives like the Facility in bridging this gap. Energy communities across Europe are ready to invest in local and affordable renewable energy, but they struggle to access early-stage funding. In this context, dedicated public funding becomes essential to unlock their full potential and mobilise millions of citizen investment towards Europe’s climate and energy objectives.
Overview of the selected projects
The selected projects are well distributed across Europe. Beneficiaries come from 22 different countries, being Austria and Spain the countries with the highest number of successful applicants. To ensure participation from countries where the framework for energy communities is less advanced and there are fewer energy communities, 29 grants were reserved for energy communities from those countries. Hopefully, these initiatives will become lighthouse examples in their countries, paving the way for many others in the future.
While many of the selected projects focus on solar energy and storage solutions, several others are exploring district heating, building renovations, sustainable mobility or other activities. For example, the Facility will support the first energy community in Cyprus; an energy community developing a business plan for a hybrid energy park combining several energy sources in Lithuania; or a Slovakian project looking for a business model to tackle energy poverty in small villages.
Next steps
With the selection process now complete, the Facility is entering a new phase. We will soon begin supporting the awarded communities in developing and implementing their business plans. At the same time, preparations are underway for the second call for proposals, to be launched in May 2026.
Specific support opportunities will be offered to potential applicants, including to those that already participated in this first call and were not selected.
Stay tuned for more!