Thanks to ELENA, companies in the public and private sectors can receive up to 90% funding for the investment preparation costs of sustainable projects in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energies and mobility. Read our blog article to find out how the EU programme works. Rising energy prices, ESG requirements and the pressure to decarbonise are presenting many companies with major challenges – but also new opportunities. Those who invest now in energy efficiency, renewable energies or sustainable mobility can save costs in the long term and secure competitive advantages. The good news is that the European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing assistance through the ELENA programme, with grants of up to 90% of project preparation costs. The funding focuses on technical and organisational services.
What is the ELENA programme?
ELENA stands for European Local ENergy Assistance and is an EU funding instrument for technical support in the preparation of large-scale investment projects in the following areas:
What makes it special is that ELENA does not finance the implementation itself, but helps with planning, structuring and tendering – precisely where problems often arise.
What measures are supported by ELENA?
Public and private sector companies can use ELENA to fund technical and organisational services required to implement an investment programme, including:
Technical studies and energy audits
Economic feasibility studies and business plans
Financial and legal advice
Tender preparation and contract management
Project bundling (e.g. across multiple locations)
Project management and coordination
These measures are often costly – and are subsidised by ELENA with up to 90%, provided that the total project volume is at least 20 times the ELENA funding.
Requirements for ELENA funding
Public and private institutions may be eligible to apply if they
are based in an EU Member State,
are planning an investment volume of at least €30 million (which may be achieved by bundling projects),
the project falls within one of the areas eligible for funding, and
implementation within three to four years is realistic.
Funding is available for non-profit projects, e.g. in cooperation with cities or as part of sustainability strategies of larger groups of companies.
Advantages of the EU ELENA programme
Up to 90% funding for planning and consulting costs
Support with the professional preparation of complex projects
Access to technical know-how and EU experience
Attractive addition to other EU funding programmes (e.g. InvestEU, CEF)
Practical examples of ELENA projects
ITS-CUBE: intelligent traffic control for Hamburg's buses
The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is planning to introduce an intelligent traffic system for bus prioritisation at traffic lights with the ITS-CUBE (ITS Concept Urban Bus Equipment) project. The aim is to make public transport more efficient and promote sustainable mobility.
Investment volume: approx. 64 million euros ELENA grant: around €1.95 million Project duration: Q2 2023 to Q2 2027
Planned measures:
Equipping buses with on-board units (OBUs) for communication with the transport infrastructure
Upgrading around 600 intersections with intelligent technology for bus prioritisation
Updating the central traffic management system to integrate the new functions
HELLO – High-volume Electric Vehicle Procurement
The HELLO project supported the introduction of e-car sharing services in Germany, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. With the help of ELENA funding, preparations were made for the procurement of 413 electric vehicles, the installation of 1,931 charging points and the integration of 147 ITS systems. The aim was to promote sustainable mobility options and improve air quality in European cities.
ELENA grant: €2.08 million Investment volume: €53 million Implementation partner: Urban Mobility Innovations GmbH Expected CO₂ savings: approx. 8,958 tonnes per year Project duration: 2017–2021
Make smart use of funding with ELENA
ELENA is an ideal financing component for project initiators who think big and want to invest sustainably. The funding reduces risks in project preparation and paves the way for long-term successful investments.
Good to know: The ELENA programme has been running since 2009 and has no fixed end date. Applications can be submitted at any time. The programme will remain active as long as the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) provide funding.
Successful ELENA funding with EurA
Are you planning a large energy or mobility project? EurA AG supports companies in assessing eligibility, submitting applications and implementing projects. Benefit from our many years of experience in EU funding consulting.
Contact us now – we will review your project idea without obligation!
Text: Monika Dimitrova
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I have been successfully involved in international projects for about 10 years. I have designed and coordinated international research consortia as well as (co-)developed and successfully implemented more than 50 business plans for highly innovative deep-tech start-ups. To keep sharpening my knowledge, I am a founding member of the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) and represent EurA there.This makes me a very good first point of contact for questions about international funding projects.
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