Scaling up smart and clean energy solutions for affordability in EU cities
Pays one consortium up to EUR 6 million to run the EmpowerEUcities initiative, which then re-grants EUR 60,000 lump sums to local authorities scaling up proven clean-energy solutions.
Only one proposal is selected for this topic; lump-sum grants to local authorities must make up around 70% of the total project budget, capped at EUR 60,000 per grant, and the whole sub-granting process (publication, evaluation, monitoring) must follow EU transparency and equal-treatment standards agreed with CINEA. The managing consortium itself needs at least 3 beneficiary organisations (not aff…
The LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme wants a single consortium to set up and run EmpowerEUcities, an initiative that helps European local authorities scale up smart, clean energy solutions already demonstrated under programmes like Horizon Europe, so citizens see real savings on energy bills. In-scope solutions include energy sharing, community-scale storage, bi-directional EV charging, energy management systems, heating and cooling systems and micro-grids. The winning consortium provides capacity building and peer-to-peer learning to local authorities, then runs at least two of its own calls awarding lump-sum grants so those authorities can build a scale-up roadmap for their chosen solution.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grant Financials and Co-Funding Evidence: Examples for Startup Applications
See examples of grant financials, match funding evidence, co-funding tables, accountant letters, investor commitments, and budget-to-work-plan checks.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
DocumentsLetter of Support for Grant Applications: Template and Examples
Learn how to write and request a letter of support for a grant, with template structure, examples, reviewer logic, and common mistakes.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from European Commission
All grants from this funder →Coordination for Cross-Sector Nuclear Technologies
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds coordination of European nuclear research platforms across energy, medicine, space, maritime uses and radiation protection.
Euratom Radiation Protection Partnership (PIANOFORTE)
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds PIANOFORTE’s 2026-27 continuation, an EU radiation-safety research partnership — only for its current members and any partner who joins them.
European Stable Isotopes for Nuclear Medicine
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds industrial production of stable isotopes needed for radionuclide therapies and a more resilient European medical supply chain.
Horizon Batteries: EV Recycling Pilot with India
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds a €9.4M lithium-ion battery recycling pilot line in India, matched to a separately funded Indian project on the same schedule.
Horizon Batteries: Sustainable Electrode Materials
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds four €7.1M projects that make battery electrode materials cleaner to produce — via greener refining or plant-based sourcing instead of mined graphite.
Horizon Buildings: Whole Life Carbon Data Platforms
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds three €5.25M projects that plug embodied and operational carbon data into building certificates, passports and BIM tools.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
Alternative and Clean Energy Program Grants
🇺🇸PA DCED · United States
Funds Pennsylvania businesses building alternative and clean energy projects through Commonwealth Financing Authority grants.
Clean Energy Grants
🇺🇸WA Commerce · United States
Funds Washington clean energy builders in solar, storage, grid resilience, and infrastructure deployment across utilities and communities.
EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems
🇪🇺EIC · European Union
Supports developing advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesters to power IoT and sensor networks autonomously.
Solar Energy Program Grants
🇺🇸PA DCED · United States
Funds Pennsylvania businesses deploying or manufacturing solar energy systems through Commonwealth Financing Authority grants.
Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund — Seed
🇦🇺QLD Government · Australia
Administers the Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund to support Queensland projects turning raw materials into commercial solutions.
RIVCircular Open Call for Innovation Projects
🇪🇸RIVCircular · European Union
Funds circular-economy consortia across eight European regions with grants up to €2 million.