The EU’s Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency has launched a new €600m funding call under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Energy to support cross-border hydrogen and carbon capture infrastructure projects.
The funding is available to projects on the EU’s Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) lists, which were legally adopted in 2023. PCIs cover infrastructure linking two or more EU member states, while PMIs apply to projects between the EU and non-EU countries.
This year’s lists include 65 hydrogen-related proposals, many of which could benefit from streamlined permitting and access to funding either through the CEF or national sources. A legally binding three-and-a-half-year permit limit applies to PCI and PMI projects to accelerate development.
Eligible projects can cover a range of infrastructure, including hydrogen pipelines, electrolysers, storage, carbon capture and CO2 transport. The call is open until 22 October this year.
The European Commission said the funding aimed to help deliver key components of the EU’s Green Deal and REPowerEU objectives, supporting the integration of energy markets and scaling up low-carbon solutions.
“Now, more than ever, we must intensify our investments to ensure a genuine energy union,” said Dan Jorgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing. “This is key to powering our competitiveness, ensuring our energy security and bringing down energy costs for all.”
In the previous CEF Energy call, launched earlier this year, the Commission awarded a combined €1.25bn to 35 projects, including 21 hydrogen proposals. It marked the first time that hydrogen-focused projects received CEF funding under the revised TEN-E regulation, which is an instrument for connecting EU countries’ energy networks.
This latest round builds on that momentum, with a continued focus on infrastructure that contributes to security of supply, market integration and decarbonisation. Projects will be assessed based on their maturity, expected impact and alignment with EU climate goals.
Today it was announced that the EU will invest €12bn in Central Asia for clean energy projects. The Global Gateway Investment Package will kickstart a new pipeline of projects for Central Asia, while a new Investors Forum will take place in Uzbekistan this year to move things forward.
