Public and private sector promoters

European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) provides grants for technical assistance focused on the implementation of energy efficiency, distributed renewable energy and urban transport projects and programmes.

The grant can be used to finance costs related to feasibility and market studies, programme structuring, business plans, energy audits and financial structuring, as well as to the preparation of tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and project implementation units.

• Investment loans for single large investment projects

The mechanism will facilitate a more cost-effective roll-out of renewables across the EU, particularly in areas that have a greater access to natural resources or are better suited for it in terms of geography.

 the mechanism links countries that voluntarily pay into the mechanism (contributing countries) with countries that agree to have new projects built on their soil (hosting countries). However, there is no direct link or negotiation between contributing and hosting countries, as is required under other EU cooperation mechanisms.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and digital services.

In addition to grants, the CEF offers financial support to projects through innovative financial instruments such as guarantees and project bonds. These instruments create significant leverage in their use of the EU budget and act as a catalyst to attract further funding from the private sector and other public sector actors.

CEF Energy