Scaling smart and clean energy for affordability

Objective

Sets up the EmpowerEUcities support initiative, which accelerates the roll-out of smart distributed energy solutions delivering tangible economic benefits for citizens in European cities. EmpowerEUcities focuses on scaling up demonstrated solutions — either expanding within the same local authority (replicating internally) or replicating solutions from one city in another. Builds on Horizon Europe, LIFE CET and Innovation Fund pilots; complements the Smart Cities & Communities Lighthouse Programme, Scalable Cities, and the Covenant of Mayors implementation arm.

Structure

One proposal will be selected. The awarded consortium becomes an intermediary: it sets up and manages an integrated initiative that offers capacity-building and financial support to local administrations and stakeholders to plan, finance, implement and monitor smart, clean and energy-efficient solutions.

How cities receive support

The awarded consortium runs at least two calls for proposals offering lump-sum grants of up to €60,000 per local authority (around 70% of the total proposal budget is earmarked for these lump sums). Eligibility for a city to receive a lump-sum grant:

• Located in a LIFE-eligible country
• Has a politically approved Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) or equivalent
• Proposes a specific smart solution or set of solutions with identified technological readiness and financial pathway
• Demonstrates a substantial potential for implementation and engagement of key stakeholders (technical, financial, operational and citizens)

The scale-up roadmap for each city must include pre-feasibility analysis, implementation steps (inventories, engineering, procurement, financing), resource planning and a local-stakeholder mapping. Roadmaps must be undersigned at executive level by relevant local stakeholders, and must demonstrate tangible economic benefits for local residents and communities.

What this means for cities and regions

Cities are the ultimate beneficiaries here, but cannot apply directly. Instead, watch for the cascade calls the awarded intermediary will publish, prepare a SECAP-aligned scale-up proposal, and budget for €60K of EU support over a 12–18 month engagement. Consortia of 3 partners from 3 countries apply to the LIFE call itself; topic budget €6M at 95% co-financing; cascade grants up to €60K per city.