Deadline: 18-Nov-2026
The Efficient Energy Use in Buildings Call supports projects that promote energy-efficient, sustainable and flexible buildings in Sweden. The call is launched by the Swedish Energy Agency and focuses on innovation, research, collaboration and knowledge development to improve how buildings use, manage, store and produce energy.
Approximately 100 million kronor has been allocated to support eligible projects. The call is open to companies, industry organisations, municipalities, public organisations, universities, colleges and research institutes, with strong emphasis on cross-sector collaboration.
Programme Overview
The Efficient Energy Use in Buildings Call supports projects that help make buildings more energy-efficient, sustainable and active within Sweden’s energy system.
The call is designed to support knowledge development, research, innovation and collaboration in the building and energy sectors.
It recognises that buildings play a major role in the energy transition and can contribute to a more flexible, resilient and climate-smart energy system.
Lead Organisation
The call is launched by the Swedish Energy Agency.
The agency supports projects that advance sustainable energy systems, improve energy efficiency and strengthen Sweden’s long-term energy transition.
Funding Available
Approximately 100 million kronor has been allocated to support eligible projects under this call.
Funding is intended to support projects that contribute to improved energy use in buildings, innovation in the sector and stronger cooperation between relevant stakeholders.
Main Objective
The main objective of the call is to improve energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings across Sweden.
The programme aims to support projects that:
- Improve energy use in buildings
- Strengthen flexible energy systems
- Support building decarbonisation
- Develop new technologies and solutions
- Increase collaboration across sectors
- Promote renewable energy integration
- Improve policy and business models
- Support sustainable construction and resource use
- Strengthen Sweden’s expertise and competitiveness
Key Focus Areas
The call focuses on sustainable building innovation and energy transition.
Key focus areas include:
- Energy efficiency in buildings
- Sustainable energy systems
- Flexible energy use
- Building decarbonisation
- Innovation clusters
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Renewable energy integration
- Policy development
- Business model development
- Sustainable construction
- Resource efficiency
- Sustainable planning and building management
Why Buildings Matter in the Energy Transition
Buildings are a major part of the energy system.
They use energy for heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, appliances and other functions.
The role of buildings is changing. Instead of being only passive energy consumers, buildings can become active parts of the energy system.
This means buildings can help:
- Produce energy
- Store energy
- Share energy
- Manage energy demand
- Reduce peak power pressure
- Improve energy flexibility
- Support renewable energy use
- Contribute to climate goals
Buildings as Active Energy Nodes
The call highlights the shift from passive buildings to active energy nodes.
An active energy node is a building that can interact with the wider energy system.
This may include buildings that:
- Generate renewable energy
- Store electricity or heat
- Adjust energy demand based on system needs
- Share energy with nearby buildings or grids
- Use smart controls to optimise energy performance
- Support flexible power use during peak demand
- Reduce emissions through efficient systems
This approach can make the energy system more resilient and sustainable.
Two Main Areas of Support
The call supports two main types of activities.
1. Research and Innovation Projects
Research and innovation projects should develop new knowledge, technologies, methods or solutions for efficient energy use in buildings.
These projects may focus on:
- New energy technologies
- Building energy systems
- Digital tools and smart controls
- Flexible energy use
- Renewable energy integration
- Energy and power efficiency
- Sustainable construction methods
- User participation and behaviour
- Policy and regulatory development
- Business models for energy transition
2. Innovation Clusters
Innovation clusters are designed to strengthen collaboration across the sector.
They help stakeholders identify shared development needs and work together on solutions.
Innovation clusters may bring together:
- Companies
- Researchers
- Municipalities
- Public organisations
- Industry organisations
- Building owners
- Energy companies
- Construction sector actors
- Technology developers
Clusters can help create stronger networks, shared knowledge and coordinated innovation pathways.
Expected Project Contributions
Funded projects are expected to contribute to Sweden’s sustainable energy transition.
Projects should support:
- More energy-efficient buildings
- Buildings that are active and flexible parts of the energy system
- Improved energy and power efficiency
- Increased user awareness and participation
- Better integration of renewable energy
- Stronger innovation in the building sector
- Improved policy, regulations and business models
- Reduced climate impact from buildings
- More efficient use of resources
- Sustainable planning, construction, management and decommissioning
Sustainable Building Lifecycle Approach
The call emphasises sustainability across the full building lifecycle.
This includes:
- Planning
- Design
- Construction
- Operation
- Management
- Renovation
- Decommissioning
- Resource recovery
A lifecycle approach helps reduce climate impact, improve material use and support long-term energy efficiency.
It also encourages better decisions at every stage of a building’s development and use.
Renewable Energy Integration
The call supports projects that help integrate renewable energy into buildings and local energy systems.
Relevant solutions may include:
- Solar energy systems
- Energy storage
- Smart energy management
- Heat pumps
- Local energy sharing
- Demand response systems
- Building-grid interaction
- Renewable heating and cooling solutions
Renewable energy integration can help reduce emissions and make buildings more self-sufficient and flexible.
Policy, Regulation and Business Model Development
Technical solutions alone are not enough to transform the building sector.
The call also supports work that strengthens policy, regulations and business models.
Projects may explore:
- New ownership models
- Energy service models
- Incentives for flexible energy use
- Regulatory barriers
- Procurement approaches
- Business models for renovation
- Financing models for energy efficiency
- Policy tools for sustainable buildings
These areas are important for scaling innovation and supporting wider adoption.
International Cooperation
International cooperation is encouraged under the call.
International collaboration can help strengthen Swedish expertise and competitiveness in the construction and energy sectors.
It can also support knowledge exchange, access to global best practices and stronger innovation networks.
Who is Eligible?
The call is open to a wide range of organisations in Sweden’s energy, construction, research and public sectors.
Eligible applicants include:
- Companies
- Industry organisations
- Municipalities
- Public organisations
- Universities
- Colleges
- Research institutes
The call places strong emphasis on collaboration between different sectors and types of organisations.
Suitable Applicants
The call is suitable for organisations that can contribute to energy-efficient and sustainable building solutions.
Suitable applicants may include:
- Building technology companies
- Energy companies
- Construction firms
- Real estate actors
- Municipal energy planners
- Public sector organisations
- Academic research teams
- Applied research institutes
- Industry networks
- Sustainability consultants
- Innovation clusters
- Renewable energy developers
Why Cross-Sector Collaboration Matters
Energy-efficient buildings require cooperation across many sectors.
No single organisation can solve all challenges related to building energy systems, construction, user behaviour, policy and technology.
Cross-sector collaboration can help combine:
- Technical expertise
- Research knowledge
- Market experience
- Public policy insight
- User perspectives
- Construction sector experience
- Energy system knowledge
This can lead to stronger and more practical solutions.
What Types of Projects May Be Supported?
The call may support projects that develop knowledge, methods, technologies or collaborative platforms for sustainable building energy use.
Relevant project types may include:
- Smart building energy systems
- Energy efficiency technologies
- Flexible energy management solutions
- Renewable energy integration projects
- Building-grid interaction models
- Sustainable renovation methods
- Resource-efficient construction approaches
- Innovation clusters for sector collaboration
- User engagement models
- Policy and business model studies
- Demonstration projects
- Knowledge development initiatives
How to Apply or Prepare a Strong Proposal
Applicants should prepare proposals that clearly show how their projects support efficient energy use in buildings and contribute to Sweden’s energy transition.
Step 1: Confirm Project Relevance
Applicants should first confirm that the project directly relates to energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
The project should align with the call’s focus on buildings as active, flexible and efficient parts of the energy system.
Step 2: Choose the Right Project Type
Applicants should identify whether their proposal is a research and innovation project or an innovation cluster.
Research and innovation projects should focus on developing new solutions, technologies or knowledge.
Innovation clusters should focus on strengthening collaboration and identifying shared development needs.
Step 3: Define the Energy Challenge
The proposal should clearly explain the energy challenge being addressed.
This may include inefficient energy use, peak power demand, lack of flexibility, poor renewable integration, high climate impact or barriers to sustainable construction.
Step 4: Explain the Proposed Solution
Applicants should describe the proposed solution, method or collaboration model.
The proposal should explain how the project will improve energy performance, flexibility, sustainability or sector innovation.
Step 5: Build a Strong Partnership
Projects should include relevant partners from different sectors where appropriate.
A strong partnership may include companies, municipalities, universities, research institutes and industry organisations.
Step 6: Show Expected Impact
Applicants should explain the expected contribution to the energy transition.
This may include:
- Reduced energy use
- Improved power efficiency
- Greater flexibility
- Lower climate impact
- Better resource efficiency
- Increased user participation
- Stronger policy or business models
- Improved competitiveness
Step 7: Address Implementation and Scalability
The proposal should include a realistic implementation plan.
Applicants should explain how the project will be carried out, how results will be used and how solutions could be scaled or replicated.
Step 8: Include Knowledge Sharing
Projects should show how knowledge will be shared with relevant stakeholders.
This may include workshops, reports, sector dialogues, demonstrations, training or collaboration platforms.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following mistakes:
- Submitting a project with weak relevance to building energy use
- Focusing only on technology without explaining system impact
- Ignoring the role of buildings in flexible energy systems
- Providing vague sustainability claims
- Failing to show collaboration between stakeholders
- Not explaining how users will be involved or informed
- Overlooking policy, regulation or business model barriers
- Ignoring the full building lifecycle
- Submitting unclear innovation cluster objectives
- Failing to show how the project contributes to Sweden’s energy transition
- Providing weak plans for implementation, scaling or knowledge sharing
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should:
- Clearly address energy efficiency in buildings
- Show how buildings can become active parts of the energy system
- Demonstrate innovation and practical relevance
- Include strong cross-sector collaboration
- Address flexibility, sustainability and climate impact
- Explain how users will benefit or participate
- Include policy, regulatory or business model relevance where useful
- Consider the full building lifecycle
- Show potential for scaling and wider adoption
- Demonstrate clear benefits for Sweden’s energy transition
FAQ
1. What is the Efficient Energy Use in Buildings Call?
The Efficient Energy Use in Buildings Call is a Swedish Energy Agency funding opportunity that supports projects promoting energy-efficient, sustainable and flexible buildings in Sweden.
2. How much funding is available?
Approximately 100 million kronor has been allocated to support eligible projects.
3. Who can apply?
Companies, industry organisations, municipalities, public organisations, universities, colleges and research institutes can apply.
4. What types of projects are supported?
The call supports research and innovation projects as well as innovation clusters that strengthen collaboration and identify shared development needs in the building and energy sectors.
5. What are the main focus areas?
The main focus areas include energy efficiency in buildings, sustainable energy systems, flexible energy use, building decarbonisation, renewable energy integration, policy development, business models and sustainable construction.
6. Why are buildings important in the energy transition?
Buildings are important because they consume energy but can also produce, store, share and manage energy. This allows them to become active and flexible parts of the wider energy system.
7. Is international cooperation encouraged?
Yes. International cooperation is encouraged to strengthen Swedish expertise and competitiveness in the construction and energy sectors.
Conclusion
The Efficient Energy Use in Buildings Call supports Sweden’s transition toward sustainable, energy-efficient and flexible buildings.
With approximately 100 million kronor available, the call provides an opportunity for companies, public organisations, municipalities, universities and research institutes to develop innovative solutions and collaborative models.
By supporting research, innovation and innovation clusters, the programme helps transform buildings from passive energy consumers into active contributors to a resilient, low-carbon and sustainable energy system.
For more information, visit Energimyndigheten.