15 energy infrastructure projects receive EU funding

The EU’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) has signed 15 grant agreements for priority energy infrastructure projects in Europe. These projects are the first of 34 projects to receive a total of €647 million under the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility 2014 call for proposals.
The projects – which are part of one of the 248 Projects of Common Interest selected by the European Commission – aim to upgrade existing energy infrastructure and develop new energy transmission infrastructure of crucial importance to Europe’s energy security. They will also support the deployment of large-scale renewable energy.
One of the 15 projects – ElecLink – centres on boosting electricity interconnection between France and the UK. The EU’s contribution of €1.7 million will cover half of the cost of a set of studies needed before construction on interconnectors can begin.
In Bulgaria, a grant of €279,000 will go towards studies paving the way for the construction of three internal electricity lines in the country.
Another project – Front End Engineering Design – will receive a grant of €1.8 million to prepare designs, technical detail and administrative work needed for the construction of a new offshore LNG facility in Greece and its connection to the national natural gas transmission system.
The next grants to be allocated to energy projects under the CEF will be selected under the latest call for proposals which closed on 29 April 2015.
More information