Funding programme

LIFE is the EU’s funding programme dedicated to the environment and climate action.

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Call overview

The aim of this call is to facilitate a large-scale rollout of high-quality heat pump installations.

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Call detail

Heat pumps represent one of the key technologies to meet the 2030 EU energy and climate targets and towards the climate neutrality of heating and cooling by mid-century. As part of the REPowerEU42 Plan to phase out EU dependence on fossil fuels imports, the European Commission has called for doubling the current deployment rate of individual heat pumps, resulting in a cumulative 10 million units installed across EU Member States by 2027.

In this framework, the aim of this topic is to complement existing legislative and financial incentives at the EU, national and local levels and to facilitate a large-scale rollout of high-quality heat pump installations. In particular, the topic aims to reduce upfront costs and perceived complexity of design and installation as well as to increase the number of skilled installers43 and the confidence of end-users.

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Activities funded

Proposals should address one of the two scopes below. The scope addressed should be clearly specified in the proposal's introduction.

Scope A: Alternative business and delivery models

Proposals should stimulate large-scale demand for heat pumps in existing buildings, while significantly reducing or spreading over several years investment costs and ensuring high-quality of the installations.

Scope B: Addressing the shortage of skilled installers and professionals for heat pumps

Launched in 2011, the BUILD UP Skills initiative has been supporting the upskilling of building professionals across Europe to facilitate the achievement of the EU’s climate and energy objectives as well as the implementation of the European Green Deal. The initiative has also supported actions to boost demand for and supply of skilled professionals in the heat pump sector and to facilitate mutual recognition of skills and competencies along the value chain.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) and be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
• non-EU countries:− listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme (associated countries) or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature.

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Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.

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Budget

For Scope A, the Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 1.75 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately.

For Scope B, the Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 1.5 million would allow the specific objectives to be addressed appropriately.

Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

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