CEF Energy: The EU funding opportunity for strategic energy infrastructure projects

CEF Energy is one of the European Union’s most important funding programmes for energy infrastructure projects. It supports projects that are recognised as strategically important for Europe’s energy system, including electricity networks, hydrogen infrastructure, offshore grids, smart grids, and cross-border CO2 networks.

For organisations developing large-scale energy infrastructure, CEF Energy can be a decisive funding opportunity. It is also a highly selective programme, closely linked to the TEN-E framework and reserved for projects with a clear European relevance.

As part of the Connecting Europe Facility programme, and thus closely linked to the TEN-E (Trans-European Networks for Energy) framework, CEF Energy supports strategic infrastructure projects with a clear European dimension: projects that help connect markets, remove bottlenecks, strengthen security of supply, support decarbonisation and accelerate the deployment of trans-European energy network

For organisations developing large-scale energy infrastructure, understanding how CEF Energy works and whether a project is ready for it is often the first step towards building a successful funding strategy.

What is CEF Energy?

CEF Energy is the energy strand of the Connecting Europe Facility, the EU programme supporting strategic infrastructure in the fields of transport, energy and digital connectivity. In the energy sector, its role is to support the implementation of infrastructure projects that contribute to a more integrated, secure and decarbonised European energy system, and overall, to the EU’s climate and energy objectives.

The programme focuses on infrastructure with a clear European dimension, that connect energy markets, address infrastructure constraints, improve system resilience, support the integration of renewable energy, or enable the transport and storage of low-carbon energy carriers and CO₂.

Projects supported through CEF Energy typically fall within areas such as:

• Electricity transmission and storage infrastructure
• Smart electricity grids
• Hydrogen networks and infrastructure
• Offshore grids
• Smart gas grids
• Cross-border CO₂ transport and storage networks.

Who can apply for CEF Energy funding?

CEF Energy funding is available for projects that have been recognised as Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) or Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) under the TEN-E Regulation. This is the central eligibility condition: a project must be part of the recognised European energy infrastructure framework to be considered for funding.

Eligible applicants may include infrastructure developers, transmission and distribution system operators, public authorities and consortia involved in the implementation of these projects.

Because eligibility requirements are closely linked to regulatory frameworks and project maturity, early assessment is often critical. Many organisations underestimate the preparation required before a project is ready to submit a competitive application.

Applicants need to confirm that the proposed funding scope is aligned with the PCI or PMI, that the right entities are involved, and that the project is mature enough for the selected type of application. This is why an early CEF readiness assessment is important.

From project preparation to infrastructure deployment

One of the defining characteristics of CEF Energy is that it can support different stages of project development: studies & works.

Studies can cover preparatory activities needed to move a project towards implementation. This may include feasibility studies, technical assessments, route or site studies, environmental studies, engineering work, permitting-related activities, or support to define the project and prepare its financing.

Works applications are different. They relate to the purchase, construction, deployment, installation, commissioning or launch of eligible infrastructure. They are therefore expected to demonstrate a higher level of maturity, a robust implementation plan and a clear justification for public funding.

Choosing the right approach is essential, as a single project cannot cover both studies and works activities. A project that is not mature enough for works may be better positioned through a studies application. Conversely, a project applying for studies must ensure that the proposed activities are genuinely preparatory and not already part of construction or deployment.

This is why a clear understanding of project readiness is just as important as technical excellence.

Why are CEF Energy applications so competitive?

While CEF Energy is one of the most important funding programmes for energy infrastructure in Europe, it is also highly competitive, and evidence-driven.

Successful applications must demonstrate much more than technical feasibility. Evaluators assess whether projects are aligned with European policy objectives, sufficiently mature, capable of delivering measurable impact, but lacking commercial viability.

In our experience, some of the most common challenges include:

• Building a convincing narrative on why EU support is necessary to move the project forward
• Demonstrating project maturity with sufficient evidence
• Defining a funding scope that matches programme requirements
• Quantifying the project’s European added value, including cross-border benefits, climate impact, system benefits and positive externalities
• Ensuring full consistency between the narrative, budget, work packages, timeline, annexes, business plan, cost-benefit analysis and supporting documents

The difficulty is thus not the quality of the infrastructure project itself, but the ability to translate a complex technical, financial and regulatory case into a clear and convincing funding application.

How we support CEF Energy projects

Navigating CEF Energy requires more than understanding the call documentation. It requires a clear strategy, a realistic assessment of project readiness and the ability to translate technical information into a compelling funding case.

We have extensive experience supporting energy infrastructure promoters in CEF-E, TEN and PCI/PMI processes. Between 2014 and 2025, we supported more than 40 CEF-E and TEN applications, with an overall success rate of around 70%. In the most recent calls, between 2023 and 2025, our success rate reached approximately 82%.

Our experience also covers the PCI/PMI selection process itself. We have supported successful PCI/PMI applications in both the first and second PCI/PMI lists with a 100% success rate. This gives us a practical understanding of how strategic infrastructure projects are assessed at European level, and how PCI/PMI positioning connects with CEF Energy funding.

We support project promoters from the early assessment stage to full proposal preparation and grant management. Our support includes:

• Eligibility and readiness assessments
• Funding strategy and scope definition
• Proposal development and full application writing
• Cost-benefit analysis, business plan and financial modelling
• Regulatory and stakeholder engagement support
• Grant management and reporting

By combining funding expertise with deep sector knowledge, we help project promoters strengthen their applications and maximise their chances of success.

For organisations exploring broader European funding opportunities, CEF Energy can also be part of a wider funding strategy covering energy, infrastructure and decarbonisation projects.

Looking ahead

As Europe continues to invest in its energy transition, programmes such as CEF Energy will remain essential for developing the infrastructure needed to support a more connected, secure and sustainable energy system.

For organisations involved in electricity networks, hydrogen infrastructure, offshore grids or smart energy systems, understanding the programme is not simply about accessing funding. It is about positioning projects within Europe’s long-term energy strategy and creating the conditions for successful implementation. This takes anticipation, and an expert by your side.