25.08.2021

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS OF GREEN BUSINESS PROJECTS

Bulgarian companies will compete with the other in the EU for LIFE 2021-2027 funding

The European Commission announced in July the first LIFE 2021-2027 Procedures. It promotes projects related to two areas - environment and climate action. The program consists of four sub-programs - "nature and biodiversity", "circular economy and quality of life", "mitigation and adaptation to climate change" and "transition to clean energy". Its total budget for the period 2021-2027 is 5.4 billion euros, with two of the procedures open to the application being particularly interested in business.

The first is a "Circular economy, waste resources, air, water, soil, noise, chemicals, Bauhaus" with a total budget of EUR 95.420 million. The eligible project budget is within 2-10 million euros, with the grant to 60% of it. Projects related to innovative technologies, methods and approaches or best practices (both at a Member State or sector level) are supported in the sphere of:

• Waste - demonstration and promotion of innovative techniques, methods and approaches and / or good practices (separate collection and recycling of waste, identifying, tracing, separating, waste prevention containing dangerous substances);
• Water (safe and efficient use of water resources; Conservation of the sea and its coast; Purification of drinking water and urban waste water);
• Soils (recovery technologies, soil quality);
• noise (innovative solutions with high environmental and economic sustainability to reduce noise in densely populated urban areas);
• air (reduction of air pollutants and solid particulate emissions);
• Chemicals (preventing and reducing the impact of chemical production on the environment and human health);
• Bauhaus initiative (reducing the environmental impact of new buildings and architectural approaches to maintaining and recovering biodiversity) and others.

Projects should contribute to reducing resource consumption and facilitating the transition to sustainable, circular, non-toxic, energy-efficient and climate-resistant economy; reducing the formation and improvement of waste management; protection of water resources, air, soils; Reduction of production, use and emissions of hazardous chemicals; reducing exposure to harmful noise levels.

The first procedures are already open.

The second open call for application of particular interest to business is "Mitigating climate change" with a total resource of EUR 30.5 million. Supported projects are expected to be within 1-5 million euros each, and the grant can again reach 60%. Eligible activities are related to the introduction of innovative technologies, methods and approaches or best practices (both at a Member State or sector level):

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in sectors not included in the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), incl. Reducing the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting substances and transition activities to 0 emission mobility (emphasis are the projects addressing alternatives to fluorinated gases, regeneration and recycling of fluorinated greenhouse gases and the removal of barriers placed by standards);
• Activities to improve the functioning of the ETS and impact on the energy and intensive greenhouse gas production. Proposals should be targeted at energy-intensive industries and in particular to those in which there is a significant risk of leakage of carbon. Priority will be given to projects developing and demonstrating innovative and cost-effective technologies and processes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
• Activities to increase the production and use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency;
• Land and water management practices affecting emissions and their elimination; Conservation and improvement of natural carbon tanks.

Both calls may apply legal entities (public and private) without limitation on their size (including native and large enterprises), associations and international organizations.

Eligible costs on both funding opportunities include purchasing equipment and depreciation, land purchase (under certain conditions), subcontract costs, indirect costs (up to 7%), staff remuneration, road, daily and cost Third countries necessary for the implementation of the project. Partnerships are not mandatory for participation, but their presence is better evaluated.

The deadline for application for non-grants "circular economy, waste resources, air, water, soil, noise, chemicals, Bauhaus" and "mitigation climate change" is 30 November 2021, and project submission is electronic through the European Commission's portal.