Crowding in private finance
LIFE Clean Energy Transition Private Finance
Funding Amount
Up to €1.5M
Deadline
23/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Crowding in private finance Call?
Grant Description
This call aims to mobilize private finance for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments by establishing and piloting innovative financing schemes that leverage public funds as a catalyst. Projects must develop operational, scalable mechanisms with a credible investment pipeline, quantify impacts through specified indicators, and plan for replication beyond the initial region.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• A fully operational, innovative financing scheme catalysing private investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy and storage
• A piloted and validated scheme with a robust, prospective pipeline of investment-ready projects
• Quantified results at project end and projections for five years post-project:
• Number of investment projects processed and volume of investments (pilot phase and five-year projection)
• Number of investors and project developers using the scheme
• Cumulative investments in sustainable energy triggered (million EUR)
• Average primary energy savings targeted by investment projects (%)
• Primary and final energy savings triggered (GWh/year)
• Renewable energy generation triggered (GWh/year)
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (t CO2-eq/year)
• Demonstrated contribution to European Green Deal and REPowerEU objectives by mobilising private capital and enhancing regulatory frameworks
• A clear business model with defined transaction costs, returns and energy savings
• A credible replication and scale-up plan adaptable to new regions and sectors
• Strengthened, long-term partnerships between financial institutions and energy services market operators
• Enhanced national capacity to report investment needs and mobilise sustainable energy finance via the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition
• A piloted and validated scheme with a robust, prospective pipeline of investment-ready projects
• Quantified results at project end and projections for five years post-project:
• Number of investment projects processed and volume of investments (pilot phase and five-year projection)
• Number of investors and project developers using the scheme
• Cumulative investments in sustainable energy triggered (million EUR)
• Average primary energy savings targeted by investment projects (%)
• Primary and final energy savings triggered (GWh/year)
• Renewable energy generation triggered (GWh/year)
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (t CO2-eq/year)
• Demonstrated contribution to European Green Deal and REPowerEU objectives by mobilising private capital and enhancing regulatory frameworks
• A clear business model with defined transaction costs, returns and energy savings
• A credible replication and scale-up plan adaptable to new regions and sectors
• Strengthened, long-term partnerships between financial institutions and energy services market operators
• Enhanced national capacity to report investment needs and mobilise sustainable energy finance via the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Establish an innovative financing scheme leveraging private finance for energy efficiency, renewables and storage in at least one LIFE-eligible country
• Ensure the scheme is fully operational by project end, with credible access to finance and a prospective investment pipeline
• Pilot test the scheme during project implementation
• Address both finance supply and demand by developing a compliant project pipeline at regional and national levels
• Define and justify the targeted region(s) and sector(s), demonstrating innovativeness and complementarity to existing funding schemes
• Demonstrate business case and financial viability: market analysis, targeted investment sizes, transaction and management costs, expected energy/cost savings and other returns
• Plan replication and rollout beyond initial region(s), including legal and market conditions analysis
• Demonstrate support and involvement of targeted stakeholder groups throughout the project lifecycle
• Prove additionality compared to existing market practices
• Where relevant, demonstrate complementarity with EU Cohesion Funds and build on existing funding programmes (one-stop shops, project development assistance)
• Coordinate with or participate in national hubs of the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition
• Allow submissions by a single applicant or by applicants from a single eligible country
• EU contribution up to EUR 1.5 million recommended (other amounts allowed)
• Ensure the scheme is fully operational by project end, with credible access to finance and a prospective investment pipeline
• Pilot test the scheme during project implementation
• Address both finance supply and demand by developing a compliant project pipeline at regional and national levels
• Define and justify the targeted region(s) and sector(s), demonstrating innovativeness and complementarity to existing funding schemes
• Demonstrate business case and financial viability: market analysis, targeted investment sizes, transaction and management costs, expected energy/cost savings and other returns
• Plan replication and rollout beyond initial region(s), including legal and market conditions analysis
• Demonstrate support and involvement of targeted stakeholder groups throughout the project lifecycle
• Prove additionality compared to existing market practices
• Where relevant, demonstrate complementarity with EU Cohesion Funds and build on existing funding programmes (one-stop shops, project development assistance)
• Coordinate with or participate in national hubs of the European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition
• Allow submissions by a single applicant or by applicants from a single eligible country
• EU contribution up to EUR 1.5 million recommended (other amounts allowed)
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Admissibility: comply with page limits and layout as per section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form
• Eligibility: meet country eligibility and other conditions in section 6; satisfy financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria in section 7
• Evaluation and award: follow submission, evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds (sections 8 and 9), and indicative timeline (section 4) of the call document and Online Manual
• Legal and financial set-up governed by section 10 of the call document, LIFE Regulation 2021/783, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and the LIFE-AG Model Grant Agreement
• Funding rate: 95% under Other Action Grants (OAG)
• Submission: single-stage via Funding & Tenders Portal by 23 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Use prescribed templates: Standard Application Form, Detailed Budget Table, Participant Information
• Coordinate with National Contact Points; adhere to Portal Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement
• Eligibility: meet country eligibility and other conditions in section 6; satisfy financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria in section 7
• Evaluation and award: follow submission, evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds (sections 8 and 9), and indicative timeline (section 4) of the call document and Online Manual
• Legal and financial set-up governed by section 10 of the call document, LIFE Regulation 2021/783, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and the LIFE-AG Model Grant Agreement
• Funding rate: 95% under Other Action Grants (OAG)
• Submission: single-stage via Funding & Tenders Portal by 23 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Use prescribed templates: Standard Application Form, Detailed Budget Table, Participant Information
• Coordinate with National Contact Points; adhere to Portal Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement
Important dates
Open from: 24/04/2025
Deadline:23/09/2025
Application period has ended
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