CEF-E-2026-PCI-PMI-STUDIES

Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Studies

Status
open for submission
Programme
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)
Action type
CEF Project Grants
Opens
30 Apr 2026
Deadline
30 Sep 2026
Fetched
15 Jul 2026, 07:18 UTC
Plain-language summary

EU grants for studies supporting Projects of Common Interest and Mutual Interest in energy infrastructure to aid decarbonisation and market integration.

This call funds studies that prepare the implementation of key energy infrastructure projects across Europe. It supports Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) that promote energy market integration, decarbonisation, and security of supply. The goal is to help these projects advance by providing financial aid for preparatory and feasibility studies.

Likely relevant for

  • Energy infrastructure project developers
  • Consultants in energy and infrastructure studies
  • Public authorities managing energy projects
  • Research organizations in energy transition

Project signals

Projects listed as PCI or PMI in the EU Union listStudies preparing energy infrastructure implementationProjects aligned with European Green Deal and decarbonisation

What it funds

  • Studies preparing implementation of PCIs and PMIs in electricity, gas, smart grids, hydrogen, and CO₂ networks
  • Preparatory, mapping, feasibility, evaluation, testing, validation studies including software
  • Technical support measures for project definition, financing, and site/route identification

Expected outcomes

  • Advancement of Projects of Common Interest and Mutual Interest
  • Support for energy infrastructure projects with socio-economic benefits
  • Contribution to EU energy market integration and decarbonisation targets

Who can apply / participate

  • Public authorities
  • Private companies
  • Research organizations
  • Consortia including multiple stakeholders
  • Consortium requirements detailed in call document section 6
  • Applicants from eligible countries as per call document section 6
  • Projects must contribute to PCIs or PMIs listed in the Second Union list
  • Compliance with TEN-E Regulation Article 18 and Annex II
  • Exact consortium size and composition requirements
  • Specific country eligibility details

Must check before shortlisting

  • Eligibility criteria in section 6 of call document
  • Specific consortium and country eligibility
  • Budget and funding rate details

Money

Up to EUR 600 million available in 2026 for studies supporting PCIs and PMIs under this call.

  • Total budget for studies — 600000000EUR
    Budget for 2026 only

Application notes

  • Single-stage submission model.
  • Proposal page limits and layout as per Part B of Application Form
  • Eligibility and admissibility conditions in call document sections 5 and 6
  • Evaluation criteria and award process detailed in call document section 9
  • Legal and financial set-up described in call document section 10
  • Download and complete application form templates from Submission System
  • Prepare required supporting documents including budget tables and compliance forms
  • Submit proposal before deadline via Funding & Tenders Portal
  • Check eligibility criteria carefully before applying
  • Ensure correct structured proposal reference format
  • Follow all instructions in call document and online manual

Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 22 Jun 2026, 13:44 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.

Related calls

These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.

Official source text

Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.

Topic description

Expected Impact: As indicated in section 1 the Multi-annual Work Programme, it is expected that the financial assistance contributes to the further development and implementation of PCIs and PMIs helping to achieve the broader TEN-E policy objectives and the CEF energy policy objectives of: further integration of an efficient and competitive internal energy market, interoperability of networks across borders and sectors, facilitating decarbonisation of the economy, promoting energy efficiency and ensuring security of supply. In accordance with Recital 5 of the CEF Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and in line with the Multi-annual Work Programme, this call for proposals aims at financing projects contributing to the goals and objectives of the European Green Deal, as well as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 climate and energy targets and the EU's mid-term and long-term objectives in terms of decarbonisation. Expected Outcome: This topic aims to enable Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) to be implemented within the framework of the deployment of trans-European networks in the energy sector. In particular, the call shall contribute to supporting energy infrastructure PCIs and PMIs that have significant socio-economic benefits and ensure greater solidarity among Member States, but which do not receive adequate financing from the market. Projects supported by this call pursue the goals and objectives of the European Green Deal, as well as the Paris Agreement and the 2030 climate and energy targets and long-term decarbonisation objectives. Therefore, financial assistance provided under this call for proposals should maximise its added value towards decarbonisation of the energy sector. The European Grids Package underlines the critical importance of energy infrastructure in the energy transition. Objective: The objective of this topic is to support and contribute to the implementation of PCIs and PMIs. Scope: This topic refers to projects for studies contributing to the preparation of the implementation of a PCI or a PMI. Studies in the meaning of CEF Energy include activities needed to prepare 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 project and decide on its financing, site / route identification and preparation of the financial package. Only projects contributing to PCIs and PMIs as identified in the Second Union list of PCIs and PMIs shall be eligible for support through EU financial aid in the form of grants. Pursuant to Article 18 of the TEN-E Regulation, PCIs or PMIs falling under the energy infrastructure categories set out in Article 24 and Annex II of the TEN-E Regulation are eligible for EU financial assistance in the form of grants for studies.

Conditions and documents

Conditions

1. Admissibility conditions

described in section 5 of the call document.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System and in the call document.

2. Eligible countries

described in section 6 of the call document.

3. Other eligibility conditions

described in section 6 of the call document.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

described in section 7 of the call document.

5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.

5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

described in section 9 of the call document.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

described in section 4 of the call document.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

described in section 10 of the call document.

Call document and annexes:

Call document

Application form templates (here for information only - the templates should be downloaded from the Portal Submission System (Start Submission > Download Part B Templates), completed, assembled and reuploaded)

Standard application form (CEF-E) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System

Detailed budget table per WP

Letter of support/MS agreement

Timetable (Gantt Chart)

Environmental compliance file

TEN-E compliance form



Structured proposal reference

The correct structured proposal reference should read “PCI/PMI code - country code(s) - S or W - M - call year - acronym

To generate the correct proposal reference: Open the form → Go to “Other questions” → Save the form → Go to “Table of contents” → Go to “General Information” → Save the form again



Model Grant Agreements (MGA)

CEF MGA

Additional documents:

Support information

For help related to this call, please contact CINEA-CEF-ENERGY-CALLS@ec.europa.eu . Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals . IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.

Raw budget overview
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