Preparatory studies in the meaning of Article 7(3) of the CEF Regulation allow for support to both EU Member States but also private project promoters in order to advance cooperation ideas, create momentum amongst involved stakeholders and with this generate a pipeline of CB RES projects. They provide specifically support to the project before aquiring the CB RES status.

The purpose of support for preparatory studies is to overcome the obstacles that have in the past prevented cooperation projects from going ahead, such as uncertainty on the allocation of costs and benefits between involved Member States or the additional complexity of setting up cross-border support.

Applications related to preparatory studies must comply with the CEF Regulation and with the specific conditions set out in this call.

A proposal for a preparatory study should demonstrate in its scope the link to planning or deployment of renewable energy.

The funding can also be used to provide technical, economic or legal support in setting up or advancing cross-border cooperation with the objective to select the best project concept. As part of such a preparatory study, it is possible to cover also some wider system-related aspects, e.g. the integration of additional storage investments, or of transport and/or digital related investments for synergetic elements.

A study can be used to start exploring (mainly through desktop studies) the possible sites in the territory of Member States (and third countries if applicable) in order to determine the hosting and off-taking (contributing) countries, as well as other exploratory tasks needed to assess the overall cost and benefits of the project. It should allow identifying and formalising the underpinning cooperation mechanism and can include related communication and stakeholder involvement activities.

Examples of activities, which could be part of studies as per Article 7 (3) of the CEF Regulation, include:

• pre-feasibility studies, used to start exploring (mainly through desktop studies) the possible geographical sites ;
• exploratory tasks to assess the overall cost and benefits of the project; first evaluation of overall cost and benefits of the project, including cost of energy generation, system integration, cost of support, greenhouse gas emissions, security of supply, air and other local pollution, innovation;
• analysis of wider system-related aspects e.g. aspects of market and grid integration, grid financing aspects, the integration of additional storage investments, or of transport and/or digital related investments for synergetic elements;
• identification of possible financing sources, assessing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) potential;
• communication and stakeholder involvement activities;
• cooperation activities between Member States, including the assessment of cost-benefit sharing.

In case the proposal concerns the development of the cooperation activities between Member States, applicants may need to contact the relevant authority of the concerned Member State. Applicants are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the relevant authority as early as possible.

Proposals can be composed of single applicant or based on a consortium. It is not necessary to have participants from all concerned countries in which the project will be implemented.

Please note that proposals under this call cannot combine preparatory studies and technical studies and works. For the technical studies and works, separate calls for proposals are launched, and a precondition for eligibility is first to receive the CB RES status.