Funding opportunity – empower citizen-led renovation: apply by 9 May

The Support service for Citizen-led renovation (CLR) is an EU initiative aiming to empower existing and prospective energy communities to put citizens in the driver’s seat for energy-saving renovation projects. It is a bottom-up initiative based on open and voluntary participation and effective governance control.

The Support service is scaling up by establishing a network of ten organisations (energy agencies, one-stop-shops for home renovations, energy communities, associations...) to help widespread citizen-led renovation. With a stronger infrastructure and an expanded support network, CLR aims to empower more citizens and communities to drive the transition toward energy-efficient and resilient buildings across Europe.

We seek five additional enablers willing to engage and guide citizens and energy communities in effectively implementing building energy renovations.

Your role in strengthening citizens-led renovation communities

The selected five additional empowering networks will play a key role in successfully carrying out citizens’ energy renovation projects. You will:

• Provide comprehensive yet specific and tailor-made support to citizen-led renovation initiatives, including technical guidance, financial advice, and project management.
• Assist communities in developing strategies, business models, and accessing resources to implement sustainable and efficient building renovations.
• Foster dynamic local ecosystems that support the emergence and scaling of citizen-led initiatives.
• Strengthen local capacities through training sessions, workshops, and ongoing support to ensure sustainable management of renovation projects.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and dissemination of best practices from previous phases, fostering innovation and learning across Europe.
• Scale and replicate successful local projects across regions, amplifying their impact.

Who can apply?

You must be based in an EU Member State and belong to one of these categories:

• Energy community networks or federations (local/regional, or national in smaller countries)
  • Energy agencies (local/regional, or national in smaller countries, and/or umbrella associations)
  • One-stop-shops, technical assistance facilities, and/or integrated home renovation service providers
  • Local public authorities (regions, provinces, or medium to large municipalities)
  • NGOs (consumer associations, environmental organisations, think tanks).

Please apply by 9 May 2025. The contract will start in September 2025 and end in December 2028.

A fixed budget range - depending on the country and starting from 500.000€ - will be assigned to each enabler to cover all costs, including staff, overheads, event organisation, communication, dissemination activities, travels to project meetings, and all associated tasks and activities of this assignment.

Read the call requirements, details, and instructions here.

Join the online info session on 2 April!

Register here to attend the online info session on 2 April 2025 from 10.00 to 11:30 CEST. A recording of the event will be available on the website from 3 April.

The call’s description and application form will be available on this page: Open Call - European Commission as of March 24^th.

For any questions, please contact Ms. Elodie Bossio at elodie [dot] bossiofedarene [dot] org (elodie[dot]bossio[at]fedarene[dot]org) or check the Open Call FAQs - European Commission.