Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM)

Summary

The RENEWFM is one of the EU financing programmes contributing to the clean energy transition and the European Green Deal objectives including the goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement, 2030 climate and energy targets and long-term decarbonisation objective).

The EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism has a cooperative nature: it allows all countries that take part in it and to share the statistical benefits of the produced renewable energy.

Programme Description

The contributing country voluntarily pays into the mechanism. This payment is then linked to new renewable energy projects built on the territory of the hosting country through competitive tenders. Both contributors and hosts can define their preferred technologies and other project characteristics, but there is no direct link or negotiation between contributing and hosting countries. The process is facilitated by the European Commission. As a result of the tender, new renewable energy projects are set up. The statistics associated with the renewable energy that is produced from a financed project in a host country  are counted mostly to the contributing country’s  own national renewable energy target. The remaining part of the statistics counts for the host country.

Benefits

The benefits of taking part in EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism depend on the role of the involved countries:

Contributing countries:

  • get statistical benefits from the renewable energy projects, located where it is more cost effective – land-locked countries can for example benefit from offshore renewable projects
  • ensure compliance with the national contribution towards the EU renewable energy target and the trajectory towards that contribution Article 3 of the Renewable Energy Directive and Article 4(a)(2) of the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union;
  • contribute to the clean energy transition of the EU as a whole, get visibility for investment in local renewable energy projects outside of their territory.

Host countries:

  • benefit from additional local investment in renewable energy projects without burden to the national budget;
  • enjoy the benefits in terms of local employment, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, modernisation of the energy system and reduced dependency on imports;
  • retain part of the statistical benefits from the renewable energy project.

Project developers and energy producers:

  • get an opportunity to receive a grant funding and national political support to develop their project (investment and operating support, subject to attainment of performance targets);
  • subject to the hosting EU country and the specific call rules, energy producers may retain the guarantees of origin for the energy produced from the renewable energy installation.

Total Budget

€ 40 million

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The financial contributions that enter the financing mechanism scheme will be distributed by the European Commission through competitive tenders for grants. The grants cover either the installation of a renewable energy production facility with certain capacity (investment support), or the actual production of renewable energy (operating support). The size of the grant is determined by the outcome of the tender procedure, where only the most competitive projects will be selected and receive support, corresponding to their bid in the tender.

Thematic Categories

  • Energy
  • Environment and Climate Change

Eligibility for Participation

  • International Organisations
  • Investment Funds
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Semi-governmental organisations
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • State-owned Enterprises

Call Opening Date

01/01/2021

Call Closing Date

31/12/2027

EU Contact Point

Programme/Sub-programme/Plan Calls
  • Renewable Energy financing mechanisms multi technology

    Opened

    Code: 34547 | Identifier Code: RENEWFM-2025-INVEST-MULTI | Programme name: Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM) | Start submission calls: 30/07/2024 | End submission calls: 04/03/2025

    This call aims to provide support for renewable energy projects and targets ground mounted solar PV and onshore wind projects as a well established and low-cost renewable energy technology aimed at high reliability in terms of deploying fully operational renewable electricity (RES-E) capacities and generation volumes and thus assumes effective and quick project realization from awarded project applicants.

  • Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism Technology specific - Solar PV

    Closed

    Code: 28551 | Identifier Code: RENEWFM-2022-TECH-SPEC | Programme name: Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM) | Start submission calls: 18/04/2023 | End submission calls: 27/09/2023

    This topic targets solar PV projects as a well-established and low-cost renewable energy technology aimed at high reliability in terms of deploying fully operational renewable electricity (RES-E) capacities and generation volumes and thus assumes effective and quick project realization from awarded project applicants.