Supporting the delivery of actionable, integrated, and comprehensive local heating and cooling plans
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. After 22 years, €3.4 billion and 4.170 projects, the LIFE Programme continues to finance actions for the environment and climate action.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Proposals under this topic should provide targeted support to help local and regional authorities develop actionable and integrated LHCPs covering different energy carriers, infrastructures and economic sectors.
Support should be clearly tailored to the targeted local and regional contexts, and used by municipalities and regional authorities. By the end of the action, proposals must result in the actual delivery of LHCPs in the targeted municipalities or regions. The plans should align with EU and Member State guidance and requirements and be developed through highly participatory processes.
Proposals should serve multiple municipalities in each targeted region and country. They should guide LHCP development by supporting data collection and use of tools, building technical capacity, engaging citizens and stakeholders, and supporting financing of decarbonisation measures. Proposals should include a detailed analysis of the current state of heating and cooling planning and related challenges in the targeted regions and countries.
Proposals should ensure that support activities are made available to the municipalities in the targeted territories, including those with fewer than 45,000 inhabitants. They should also facilitate joint action among municipalities at regional or other appropriate governance and territorial levels, to pool skills and resources and support inter-municipal and/or regional energy system planning.
Detailed Call Description
Specific support activities for local and regional authorities should include:
- Building technical skills and expertise to prepare, finance, implement and monitor LHCPs
- Collecting granular and context-specific geospatial, technical, climatic and socio-economic data for the preparation of LHCPs, using national approaches/standards where available, or approaches which facilitate future compatibility of local data with national databases
- Developing comprehensive outlooks for energy demand and supply and identifying spatially tailored decarbonisation measures, for instance the potential for heating and cooling networks in urban and industrial areas
- Identifying and assessing financing options for LHCP measures, considering public and private funding, local and regional budgets, energy costs for end users, social acceptance and the needs of energy-poor and vulnerable households
- Running participatory processes to streamline planning and administrative procedures including permitting, to address regulatory barriers, and to engage key stakeholders, including public authorities, infrastructure operators, citizens, energy communities, associations, industry, businesses and services, energy producers, energy service providers, utilities and distribution system operators (DSOs)
- Coordinating LHCPs with electricity and heating and cooling distribution network and infrastructure development plans, and where relevant, with decommissioning plans for natural gas networks [8]
- Establishing structured dialogue and collaboration with competent regional and national authorities, including to inform national-level planning such as NECPs and the National Comprehensive Heating and Cooling Assessments.
Proposals should include specific activities to transfer knowledge and experience to help initiate LHCP processes beyond the targeted territories.
Proposals should also explain how they will help establish lasting and institutionalised LHCPs planning and governance frameworks under the responsibility of the targeted municipalities and regions. This may include, but not limited to, dedicated structures, hubs, or task forces to support the implementation of LHCPs in the territories covered.
Proposals may use existing digital tools, such as those developed by national authorities or EU-funded projects, to support the development of LHCPs. Proposals whose main focus is to develop new digital tools are outside the scope of this topic.
Proposals that only focus on district heating and cooling investment plans are outside the scope of this topic.
Proposals should clearly identify the targeted territories and the municipalities and regional authorities involved. They should demonstrate their active involvement and firm political commitment, for instance by including them in the consortium or providing tailored letters of support clearly specifying their commitment and role in the project.
Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
95%
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Public Administration
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
- non-EU countries:
- listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme
- the coordinator must be established in an eligible country
Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register — before submitting the proposal — and will have to be validated by the Central Validation Service (REA Validation). For the validation, they will be requested to upload documents showing legal status and origin.
Other entities may participate in other consortium roles, such as associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions, etc.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Department of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
www.lifecyclamen.com.cy
Contact Persons
Marilena Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Environment
Telephone: +357 22 408 926
Email: mpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy
Chrystalla Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Climate
Telephone: +357 22 408 962
Email: cpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy