This topic refers to projects for studies contributing to the implementation of a CB RES project. Studies (article 2 of CEF Regulation) in the meaning of CEF Energy include activities needed to prepare cross-border RES project implementation, such as preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing and validation studies, including in the form of software, and any other technical support measure, including prior action to define and develop a cross-border RES project and decide on its financing, such as exploration of the sites concerned and preparation of the financial package. A study could cover in-depth investigation and exploration of the risk factors of a project e.g. safety, technical, environmental, regulatory, economic or legal issues to determine whether and how the project should be implemented.

While CEF Energy does not finance technological development, in justified cases, studies can include also pilot projects, such as pilot plants, that are eventually needed to test technologies that are at TRL 7-8, innovative processes or techniques. Such pilot projects should be strictly related to eligible components of the CB RES project.

For more mature projects, a study may have the objective to move the project through the development stage to a Final Investment Decision (FID) and may include Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies, technical design studies, geophysical surveys, seabed surveys, tasks related to territorial planning, environmental assessments and comparable studies as applicable. Activities may also include stakeholder engagement and procurement for the construction phase.

A study could also be used to set out in detail the operational aspects of a cooperation, such as the precise legal set up of the financing arrangement e.g. the cross-border tender or the regulatory set up of the cooperation project, or the arrangement on the allocation of costs and benefits between the participating counties.

For each of the CB RES projects, the list of components that are included in the CB RES status can be found in the technical documentation supporting the Delegated Regulation that establishes the CB RES list.

Proposals for studies can cover any of the elements of the CB RES status project contained in the technical documentation.

While the focus of the study should be related to the renewable energy generation component of the project, in the case of projects with additional (non-RES generation) elements such as grid infrastructure, storage facilities, conversion of the renewable electricity, studies may also cover the interplay between those elements and the renewable energy component, if it is justified by the applicants that the effectiveness of the study will be higher when it captures the project set-up as a whole.

Only projects in conformity with EU law and which are in line with the relevant EU policies shall be financed, in particular those relating to competition, protection of the environment, state aid and public procurement. Linked to the protection of the environment, it is be noted that there are additional requirements for WORKS proposal, notably extra mandatory documents which are reported (see section 5 of the call document).

To be eligible, proposals shall either be submitted by one or more Member States or have the agreement of the Member States concerned as expressed through the letter of support. The letter of support shall be signed by the ministries of the participating Member States in charge of implementing the cooperation agreement for the underlying CB RES project.

Clarification about the letter of support: If the competent authority is at a regional level, the letter of support can be signed by the regional authority; the latter shall provide evidence of the agreement with the national authority of the concerned Member State.

This call aims to enable CB RES projects which have significant socioeconomic benefits to be implemented, within the framework of the renewable energy sector and in particular to support cross-border cooperation in the field of renewable energy.