Eligible technologies, components and investments
The following technologies, components and investments shall be eligible as part of the renewable energy cross-border projects:
(a)
Generation technologies based on any of the renewable energy sources listed in Directive (EU) 2018/2001;
(b)
Storage facilities both on and offsite, provided that they form an integral part of the project, effectively enable the integration of and are ancillary to a renewables generation facility;
(c)
Any system and component integrating information and communication technologies, including to improve predictability of renewables production and any equipment or installation essential for the investment to operate properly, including monitoring and control systems, provided they form an integral part of the project, effectively enable the integration of and are ancillary to a renewables generation facility;
(d)
Connection of the renewables generation either to the distribution or the transmission grid and, if applicable, of storage to either the transmission or distribution grid, provided they form an integral part of the project, effectively enable the integration of and are ancillary to a renewables generation facility;
(e)
Conversion of renewable electricity to renewable liquid and gaseous fuels of non-biological origin, including transformer or compression facilities, provided they form an integral part of the project, effectively enable the integration of and are ancillary to a renewables generation facility;
(f)
Any other technologies, components or investments specified in the relevant CEF work programmes and calls, that form an integral part of the project, effectively enable the integration of and are ancillary to a renewables generation facility.
Cooperation mechanisms setting up the renewable energy cross-border projects and application
1. For a project to be included in the draft list of renewable energy cross-border projects, it shall be set up by a cooperation mechanism.
2. A project promoter applying for a project to be included in the draft list of renewable energy cross-border projects shall provide a written declaration of the participating Member States and, where relevant, third countries, expressing their willingness to conclude a cooperation agreement in order to set up the renewable energy cross-border project. The declaration does not require a specific format, but it shall be signed by the Ministries of the participating Member States in charge of implementing the cooperation agreement, including transit countries, where relevant and where the agreement requires the use of their infrastructure.
3. The application to be included in the draft list shall include the information on the criteria for selection referred to in this Chapter.
Socioeconomic net benefits of the renewable energy cross-border projects
1. A project promoter applying for a project to be included in the draft list of renewable energy cross-border projects shall demonstrate that the potential overall cost savings in the deployment of renewables and/or the benefits for system integration, security of supply or innovation that are associated with the project outweigh its costs (‘socioeconomic net benefits’).
2. The socioeconomic net benefits referred to in the previous paragraph shall be demonstrated for the period, which shall cover at least 15 years, starting with the first year of operation of the project and reflecting its technological lifetime.
3. The estimation of the project’s socioeconomic net benefits referred to in the first paragraph shall be based on a cost-benefit analysis, prepared by the project promoter. The cost-benefit analysis shall include all elements referred to in point 3 of Annex Part IV of Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and shall demonstrate the existence of socioeconomic net benefits in comparison to a similar project or renewable energy project implemented by one of the Member States participating in the cooperation agreement.
