Deadline: 12-Apr-23
The European Commission (EC) is accepting proposals for Enhancing the Sustainable Production of Renewable Energy at Farm-level.
Scope
Many different forms of renewable energy are produced in rural areas, ranging from wind, solar (including agri-voltaics) and geothermal sources to different forms of bioenergy. Between these renewable energy sources and the environment, there can be trade-offs (e.g. land use change, biodiversity loss, air pollution) but also synergies. Small and medium scale installations can provide opportunities for new cooperation in production, sales and distribution of renewable energy, and thus, can provide agricultural communities (conventional and organic sectors) with an extra source of income, while contributing to clean energy supply for society. If well planned and implemented, such installations can be deployed without harming the environment, or even with positive impacts, for example preserving soils quality, contributing to water retention, avoiding methane emissions or supporting pollination.
Funding Information
The check will normally be done for the coordinator if the requested grant amount is equal to or greater than EUR 500 000, except for:
- public bodies (entities established as a public body under national law, including local, regional or national authorities) or international organisations; and
- cases where the individual requested grant amount is not more than EUR 60 000 (lowvalue grant).
Expected Outcomes
- This topic supports the implementation of the EU bioeconomy strategy by creating opportunities for new cooperation in production, sales and distribution of renewable energy, which can provide agricultural communities (conventional and organic sectors) with an extra source of income, while contributing to clean energy supply for society without harming the environment.
- Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:
- Development of sustainable solutions and business models to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 in the EU and ultimately achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
- Identification of technical, economic, societal, environmental and regulatory barriers hampering further scale-up of renewable energy at farm-level
- Development of suitable and sustainable solutions to produce co-benefits (e.g. energy production, higher productivity, less water use, further pollination) and increase their up-take in practice.
- Recommendations for improved and targeted guidance, incentives and policies at regional, national and EU-level to reduce environmental impacts and financial risks for farmers.
- Diversification and enhancement of agricultural incomes (organic and conventional farming).
Eligibility Criteria
- To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
- To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions,
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States,
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
- the following low- and middle-income countries.
For more information, visit European Commission.