CEF Energy: Five new projects obtain status and join the CB RES list

The European Commission has approved the addition of five new cross-border renewable energy (CB RES) projects to the official CB RES list. With this latest round, a total of 13 projectsnow hold the CB RES status, granting them eligibility to apply for financial support under the CB RES window of the CEF Energy programme.

The newly added projects are:

• Liivi Bay Offshore Wind Farm: the project aims to deliver a large-scale offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. Built in Estonian waters in the Gulf of Riga, it will be radially connected to the Estonian national grid, and it is expected to reach 1 GW of installed capacity and start generating electricity from 2031. The wind farm will contribute to Estonia's goal of producing 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, while also supporting Latvia's energy transition.
• Utilitas Eleja-Jonišķis Wind Park: spanning across the Latvian-Lithuanian border, the onshore wind park will reach 200 MW of installed capacity from 2028, offering a strong boost to renewable energy supply in both countries. The project is strategically located to connect to the 330 kV Viskaļi-Mūša transmission line, enhancing regional grid stability and energy independence.
• Comprehensive Offshore Renewable Energy Studies (CORES): the project paves the way for groundwork for future cross-border deployment of floating offshore wind energy in Portugal in a cooperation with Luxembourg. It will assess offshore wind zones, grid reinforcements, and auction models, helping to unlock up to 10 GW of offshore wind capacity in Portugal. The project also fosters collaboration around green hydrogen, port infrastructure, and energy system planning.
• Medlink Renewable Generation (MedGen): this landmark North-South cooperation project aims to install 10 GW of solar and wind capacity in Algeria and Tunisia, with dedicated battery storage systems. Two 2 GW HVDC interconnectors will export up to 22.8 TWh/year of clean electricity to Italy (outside the scope of the CB RES project). This makes MedGen a flagship initiative, boosting sustainable development, regional integration, and the EU's energy diversification efforts.
• Twin Heat: the project will decarbonise the district heating systems of the twin cities Słubice (Poland) and Frankfurt (Germany) through the installation of renewable-based heating infrastructure, including biomass boilers and cross-border heat exchange. The project is an example of thermal energy integration, contributing to lower emissions, cleaner air, and increased energy efficiency in urban heating systems.

These projects are key to strengthening Europe's energy security, promoting cross-border cooperation, and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies in support of EU's energy and climate objectives.

This adopted list is now submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for a 2-month period of scrutiny (this period may be extended by an additional 2-month period upon their request) and it will only be formally published in the Official Journal after this period, and enter into force 20 days later.

Other projects in the CB RES list

From 2022:

• ELWIND : a hybrid offshore wind park between Estonia and Latvia.
• GOERLITZ-ZGORZELEC: a cross-border district heating grid based on RES between Germany and Poland.
• CICERONE: a project to produce renewable electricity in Italy, Spain and Germany for conversion, transport and use of green hydrogen in the Netherlands and Germany.

From 2023:

From 2024:

The five projects, thanks to the official CB RES status, are now eligible for financial support for studies and works under the CEF Energy Programme. Furthermore, they benefit from higher visibility, increased investor certainty, and stronger support from Member States. ELWIND and CICERONE were first funded by CEF in 2023, while Goerlitz-Zgorzelec, ULP-RES, and SLOWP received CEF funding in 2024. The results of the 2024 call for studies and works for CB RES projects will be announced by mid-September 2025. Stay tuned!

The next call for CB RES projects to obtain the status and join the list will open on 2 September, and CINEA will organise a virtual Info Day on 23 September to guide applicants through the process.

Background

CB RES projects are identified by the CEF Regulation and aim to promote cross-border cooperation between EU countries (and between EU countries and non-EU countries) in the field of planning, development and cost-effective exploitation of renewable energy sources. In addition, CB RES projects may facilitate RES integration through energy storage or hydrogen production facilities with the aim of contributing to the EU's long-term decarbonisation strategy. CB RES projects need to be set-up by a cooperation mechanism as defined in the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive.