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Supporting the delivery of actionable, integrated, and comprehensive local heating and cooling plans

Covers up to 95% of costs for projects that help multiple municipalities actually deliver local heating and cooling plans, not just study them.

Data collected for the plans should use national approaches or standards where they exist, or otherwise be structured so local data stays compatible with national databases later on. Assessing financing options for plan measures must weigh public and private funding, local and regional budgets, end-user energy costs, social acceptance and the needs of energy-poor and vulnerable households, not jus…

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme wants projects that give local and regional authorities the technical skills, data and financing know-how to prepare and deliver Local Heating and Cooling Plans (LHCPs) — the EU-mandated planning documents that guide the shift away from fossil heating and cooling. Proposals must serve multiple municipalities across a targeted region or country, including ones below the 45,000-population threshold that triggers a legal requirement to plan, and must result in actual LHCPs being delivered by the end of the project, not just draft studies. Work must run through highly participatory processes with citizens, energy communities, utilities and DSOs, and coordinate with national plans like NECPs.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.5%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€6.5M

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