Frequently Asked Questions
1
Application & Selection
Q: How will the merits of my application be considered during the selection
process?
The selection process is fully randomised accounting only for energy intensive
companies and the host organisation of the EEN advisor as set out in the
guideline for applicants. That means no preference will be given to companies
proposing implementation plans which may be objectively considered as
“better,” e.g., those companies expecting a greater energy reduction will not
be treated preferentially.
Q:
I would like to participate in the EENergy open call but cannot commit to the
deadline. What other options do I have? All remaining project funds will be
distributed in the EENergy 2 nd open call and the deadline on the 28th February
is fixed. The application process is designed to be as quick and
straightforward as possible, so the EENergy team encourages you to engage with
your local EEN advisor and move ahead with application submission by the
deadline, even if time is tight.
Q:
How many application rounds are foreseen, or is it a continuous call with cut
offs?
One application round is planned with a single deadline at 17:00 CET on the
28th of February 2025.
Q:
Why should I apply for the call if the selection of the beneficiaries will be
performed randomly? The main value of EENergy is the structural support
framework offered to SMEs to improve their energy efficiency. Regardless of the
outcome of the selection process, SMEs will receive a tailored action plan as
well as continued support from their EEN advisor to find complementary methods
of
realising this action plan. In addition, all applicants will have access to
regular benchmarking reports allowing them to track their Energy Efficiency
performance over time, and in comparison, with other SMEs in their region,
industry, and size range.
Q:
Am I still required to provide data about my energy consumption even if I am
not selected for a grant?
Yes, SMEs not selected for grants are considered regular beneficiaries
of the call as they will continue to receive EEN advisory services and
benchmarking reports. A prerequisite to access these benefits is the provision
of the energy data during the reporting period in January 2026. Furthermore,
any SME who applies to the programme commits to a declaration of honour as part
of the application form
which confirms their SME’s commitment to provide data during in the follow-up
reporting period in January 2026.
Q: What does the “eligibility check” entail? Will the action plan
be assessed by an evaluator or only by the clients’ EEN advisor at the
beginning of the application process?
During the eligibility check, the EENergy consortium will ensure that the
applicant fulfils all the eligibility criteria, in terms of the SME criteria,
its location, its start date of operation, and its cooperation with the EEN.
The EENergy consortium will also check that the nature of the implementation
plan is in line with the requirements of the open call, in terms of coherence,
quality, 5% rationale, and timeframe. Applicants and advisors are recommended
to utilise the implementation plan logic chart presented in the call guidelines
to ensure that their implementation plan fulfils all criteria. Applicants and
advisors are also encouraged to review the example action plans provided in Annex
A of the guideline for applicants.
Q:
What are the selection criteria for being funded or not?
In addition to the eligibility criteria for an SME to apply to
the programme, the only target considered as part of the application process is
that at least 33% of SMEs will be active in energy intensive industries. Given
these conditions, all eligible applicants will be treated equally in the random
selection process.
Q:
Where can I find the EEN sustainability advisor?
EEN services are available to all SMEs located in member states
associated to EUs Single market programme. You can find the nearest EEN office
via this link: https://een.ec.europa.eu/local-contactpoints
Q: What are the criteria for energy intensive industries?
A company is considered energy intensive if it’s primary economic activity is
manufacturing, and if it is operating in one of the industries specified in
guideline for applicants, or at least 40% of it’s operational costs are arising
from energy costs.
Q: How long does the energy efficiency assessment and action plan process with
the EEN advisor take?
The duration of the overall process will vary depending on several factors, for
example, the complexity of the company’s energy behaviour, the experience of
the advisor, and the level of existing engagement between the company and the
advisor. In general, between 2 and 8 hours of work could be expected to
complete these steps.
Q: What happens if you have more than 1800 companies applying before the call
closure, will you close the call earlier?
No. The call will remain open until February 28th May, irrespective of the
number of applications.
Q: Can Sustainability Advisors submit applications on behalf of their clients?
No, the application form must be completed and submitted by the SMEs
themselves. This is important as the SMEs must complete the consent- and
declaration sections to be eligible for the program.
Q: Who will communicate the result to the SME? Will the advisor be informed in
advance?
Both the SME and the advisor will be informed via email once the selection
process has been completed.
Q: When will I receive the €10.000 funding?
The funding is provided on a cost reimbursement basis. Once the activities have
been implemented, the client must report their expenditures and new energy data
to the consortium, which will be used as a basis for validating and approving
the grant payment. This can be done in the reporting period in January 2026,
with payments processed in February 2026.
Q: If the SME is working with multiple EEN advisors, can they also provide
other EEN advisors details in the application?
Applicants
can only provide one EEN advisor name and email address in their application.
This should correspond to the sustainability advisor who has been the main
contact point and who has formulated the action plan. The same advisor must
also upload the action plan within the internal reporting tool of the EEN – EEN
Connect.
Q: Are EEN consortium partners eligible to apply for the call?
No, as this constitutes a conflict of interest between the applicant and the
sustainability advisors.
Q: If the space where the activity is to be implemented is rented, is this
still eligible?
Yes, it is still eligible, however the renter should ensure that they have the
appropriate permissions/rights to implement the activity even if they are not
owning the property. Furthermore, the renter should ensure there is a minimal
risk that they will not be relocating during the period of the activity to
avoid reporting complications.
Q: Can you provide details regarding the contracting and sub-grant agreement
for funded beneficiaries?
Funded beneficiaries will enter into a sub-grant agreement with the EENergy
consortium. A template sub-grant agreement will be made available on the
project website. The signatures and contracting will be processed through the
EENergy grant platform.
Q: The application form asks for the establishment’s approximate value of total
machinery equipment for production and asks for either the current value or
replacement value in Euros. Since „current value” could imply market
value, and „replacement value,” the cost to replace the equipment
with new versions, these figures can differ significantly. What should we do in
this instance?
When providing a response to this question as part of the application, the
replacement value should be the approximate value to replace the piece of
machinery with a pre-used alternative. The replacement value should not be
considered the value of replacing the piece of machinery with a completely new
alternative.
Q: The application asks for both the business registry number and the VAT
number of our establishment. For us we only have one number which fulfils both
purposes. How should we provide this?
Both numbers are asked since, depending on the country of the company, there
may be multiple numbers available. In case your company only has a single
number which serves both purposes, please provide this number in both fields.
2 Use of Funds
Q: Can I combine multiple categories of funding in a single EENergy activity?
Yes, combinations of activities within the three categories (Investment,
Consulting, and Training &
Skills) are possible. However, all activities should part of a coherent
implementation plan which lays
out the goal to reach 5% energy reduction where all funded activities
contribute to this reduction.
Q: I would like to implement an activity which will cost more than the maximum
grant of €10,000.
Can I use the funds from EENergy to contribute to this activity?
A
contribution of the EENergy funds to a larger activity or investment is
allowed, as long as the
remaining funds for this activity come from private sources, e.g., a company’s
own capital, a private
investment, or a loan from a private bank. During the reporting of the
activity, you will be required to
demonstrate the use of the EENergy funds. Please note, that while larger
projects are welcomed, the
content of your implementation plan will form the legal basis for the grant
agreement. Therefore, you
should take care to ensure that your proposed activities are not overly
ambitious and extensive, since
no more than €10.000 funding can be covered by EENergy. Furthermore, the
proposed actions should
be realistically implementable by January 2026 to ensure all expenditures can
be submitted for
reimbursement.
Q: I have received funding from another public program to implement the same
measures planned
under my EENergy application. Can I combine these funds to execute the project?
No, the activities described in your application can only be funded from a
single public funding source,
and you cannot combine EENergy funds with any other public source of funds.
Q: How long is the period of implementation if the company is selected for
funding?
There are no upper or lower limits for the implementation period, however it
should be realistic and
plausible to carry out the implementation plan and achieve the 5% energy
reduction by the end of the
31st January 2026. Any costs incurred after this date will not be eligible for
reimbursement. If the
achievement of the energy reduction is not to be expected before this date,
this must be justified in
the implementation plan text, and you will be required to complete and sign a
declaration of honour
at the reporting stage, in order to receive the grant payment. All companies,
including those signing
the declaration of honour, may be subject to audit to ensure the plan has been
properly implemented.
Q: Will clients have to provide proof of the use of funding resources (i.e.
financial reporting) or can
it be considered as lump sum funding without any required financial reporting.
EENergy funds are not provided as a lump sum, but on a cost-reimbursement basis
against actual
costs. Beneficiaries must provide evidence of expenditure (e.g., invoices) as
well as the relevant
energy data in order to be reimbursed. Auditing of beneficiaries will take
place during the project to
ensure proper and accurate reporting.
Q: If a company applies for more than €10,000 is the application automatically
discarded?
No. Companies can define action plans with larger budgets to which EENergy will
contribute, however
a maximum of €10.000 will be paid in all cases. In this instance, beneficiaries
must ensure that they
have access to the additional funds required for implementing the action plans,
and that these funds
are not considered double funding as described in the Guideline for Applicants.
Q: Can ESG-related activities (the assessment of the impact of companies on the
environment,
society, and corporate governance) be funded?
ESG-related activities are not excluded per se, however there must be a clear
connection between
performing these activities and the achievement of the 5% energy efficiency improvement.
Simple
ESG assessments, which do not lead to any energy reduction, are not eligible.
Q: Is green coding an eligible activity to be funded?
Green coding is not excluded per se, however there must be a clear connection
between this and the
achievement of the 5% energy efficiency improvement. Furthermore, such an
activity must be carried
out by an external service provider since the funds cannot be used for staff
costs.
Q:
Can I use EENergy funds to cover staff costs associated with the installation
of a piece of
equipment funded under the investment category?
No, internal staff costs are not eligible. However, external staff costs
incurred as part of the service
agreement from the provider of the equipment are eligible provided they are
included in the
submitted invoice(s).
Q: Must a company select a solution from the energy efficiency catalogue or are
they free to define
any other appropriate energy efficiency activity?
The energy efficiency catalogue serves as a guideline and resource for applicants
and advisors to help
identify possible measures to be implemented, but its use is not mandatory. Any
activity which falls
under the three defined categories of investment, consulting or skills and
training, and can result in
the 5% improvement is eligible.
Q: Does the activity invoice have to be dated after the call opening date or
can it also have occurred
earlier?
Action plan implementation and the expenditures associated with this may not
begin until the subgrant agreement between the beneficiary and the EENergy
consortium has been signed. Any expenditures before this date will be
ineligible and cannot be reimbursed.
Q: What are the eligibility requirements to invest in infrastructure, such as
walls, doors, windows,
roofs, etc, must the company have ownership of the infrastructure or is a
long-term rent agreement
that is registered in land registry sufficient?
Companies must have the legal right to perform these activities. For example,
if the company wishes
to invest in an improvement to a building that they do not own, but which is
part of their premises,
they must ensure that they are able to do this and that this action is not for
example prohibited by
their rental or lease agreement.
Q: When can the company start implementing its implementation plan and execute
the project?
Funded beneficiaries receiving the grant may only start their activities
following the signature of the
sub-grant agreement with the EENergy consortium. Regular beneficiaries not
receiving the grant may
start implementing their action plan as soon as they receive the results of the
selection process.
Q: Which types of devices or machinery are eligible for funding under the
program?
Any type of device or machinery, which results in an energy efficiency
improvement of 5% is eligible
for funding.
Q: Can I make use of the funds to lease or rent machinery or equipment?
Leasing or renting is not automatically eligible, since the long-term
achievement of a 5% reduction is
not ensured in such situations. We will allow action plans which consider
leasing, however with the
requirement, that the purchase of the equipment is completed and demonstrated
by the point of the
activity reporting.
Q: For indirect activities such as consultancy, audits, or training, when does
the company have to
present the outcomes?
In these cases, companies must present the expected outcomes of the performed
activities and
explain how these outcomes will be implemented in the future to arrive at the
5% energy reduction
target – this will likely occur after the initial training or consultancy has
been performed, once the
learnings of said service have been implemented. This should be considered when
estimating the
duration of the action plan.
Q: In the case of a solar panel installation where surplus production is resold
to an energy supplier,
the purchaser of the surplus may be a public body. Is it still possible to
apply for EENergy, or would
this contradict the double-funding rules?
The double funding rules concern the financing of the action, in this case the
purchase and installation
of the panels. If they are not financed by any other public financial support,
then they are eligible. The
surplus production and reselling are not part of the action plan but rather an
operational consequence
of the investment, and hence will not normally contradict the double-funding
rules.
Q: A customer wants to replace a high-consumption furnace on its production
line with a new
model. Is this an eligible investment?
Yes, it is eligible if it saves at least 5 % of energy.
Q: If an SME requests a grant for training, can members of the management (even
if they are
considered corporately self-employed) also receive the training, or only
general staff?
Any representative of the company or staff member is eligible for receiving training,
as long as they
have a legal relationship with the company (e.g., as an employee, owner,
management etc.), and as
long as the measure is designed to target the 5% energy reduction.
Q: Our local currency is not in Euros. What do I need to pay attention to when
planning my use of
funds and providing the data for the data collection?
All monetary data provided within the application is requested in Euros (€).
In order to convert local currency into Euros for applying to call 2, SMEs
should use the following link:
https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/procedures-guidelines-tenders/informationcontractors-and-beneficiaries/exchange-rate-inforeuro_en.
In the reporting phase, for both the general data collection (e.g., revenue,
cost of materials etc.) and
the reporting of the funded activities, clients do not need to convert their
currency. Clients will
instead be asked to specify which currency they will report in. For non-Euro
currencies, the exchange
rate from the date of the invoice (for reimbursements of implementation plan
costs), or from the 1
st January 2025 (for general data collection purposes) will be utilised by the
EENergy consortium.
Q: Can the EENergy grant be combined with financing from state backed financial
institutions, for
example loans with a funding component (the overall interest rate is lower than
the one the market
offers), or those granted by De-Minimis regulation or by the General Block
Exemption Regulation
(GBER)?
The EENergy funding cannot be combined with other public grants. The
differentiating factor here
refers to the nature of the financing, i.e., if the funds are repayable or not.
If the financing takes the
form of a loan which must be paid back, this is not considered double funding.
3 Energy Reduction Target
Q: What happens if the 5% energy reduction is not reached during the
implementation period?
Applicants funded by EENergy must achieve a 5% energy reduction. If this cannot
be achieved by 31
st January 2026, funded beneficiaries must complete and sign a declaration of
honour committing to
achieving this reduction in the future, along with a rationale and explanation
of how this target will
be reached. If it is also expected, at the time of submission, that the
reduction will take longer to
achieve, this must also be explained and justified in the application.
Q: I have an action plan for a 5% energy reduction, but I do not have the data
available in units of
kWh. How can I demonstrate the achievement of the 5% reduction target?
It is the responsibility of the SMEs to convert any relevant data into the
required kWh unit. Applicants
must make it clear if the source data is not in kWh and provide the methodology
used for converting
the source data into kWh units.
Q: How can I prove the 5% energy reduction if the expected impacts of my
activities will only be
realised in a longer timeline than the project duration?
It is recognised that some funded activities will not result in an immediate 5%
reduction but may only
have an impact on a longer term. In this instance, the company must complete
and sign a declaration
of honour committing to achieving this reduction of 5% in the future, along
with a rationale and
explanation of how this target will be reached.
Q: I plan to use the EENergy funds to perform an energy audit, but this will
not directly result in a
5% energy reduction. How can I fulfil the target?
For indirect activities such as consultancy, audits, or training, you must
present the outcomes of the
performed activities and explain how these outcomes will be implemented in the
future to arrive at
the 5% energy reduction target.
Q: What if a company is undergoing a production expansion and energy
consumption rises anyways,
regardless of increased efficiency?
Beneficiaries are required to provide company-level data at the application
stage, and again in a
reporting period in January 2026 This data will indicate company-wide changes
to production or
consumption which can be used to scale the reported values if necessary.
Clients can also define their
own relevant KPI (e.g., energy consumption per unit produced) for this purpose.
Q: What if a warm spring session leads to a decreasing amount of heating energy
larger than 5%
during the project period?
The company-level data will be considered together with the raw consumption
data in order to
account for external factors.
Q: Is the 5% reduction meant for the entire company or can it also be on a
single unit level (e.g. a
department within the firm, a specific production line or a piece of equipment)?
The applicant and the advisor must define the unit level of measurement as part
of the action plan.
This will define the reference point for the 5% measurement.
Q: I have received a couple of questions, whether the grant could be used to
replace oil heating to
air heat pump. To me this sounds a sensible project, moving towards using
renewable energy, but
does not really result in reduction of electricity consumption (kWh)? What
should I reply to the
companies?
While EENergy encourages companies to become greener in their choice of energy
source, simply
changing from one type of energy source to another is not sufficient to be
considered an eligible
activity. The energy reduction element must be covered and the 5% target will
be the aspect which
defines the eligibility of the activity.
Q: We would like to apply for an investment to install solar panels for
producing our own electricity,
but this will not result in an energy consumption reduction in itself. Is this
still eligible?
A 5% energy reduction in some form or context is a requirement of all
activities. Since a goal of
EENergy is to reduce energy dependence of SMEs, such an activity would be
considered eligible if this
results in, for example, a 5% reduction of energy consumption from the energy
grid, with this energy
being generated by the new solar panels instead.
Q: We would like to invest in an upgrade to one of our production lines, but
have no direct
measurements for the production line itself, nor any bills specifically for
that production line. How
can we prove the 5% energy reduction in such a case?
In cases where no direct energy measurements or bills are available in relation
to the activity scope,
it is the responsibility of the beneficiary to define a methodology and
approach for calculating the
energy reduction arising from the activity. This could be based on, for
example, manufacturer’s data,
or through indirect measurements linked to operational records. Due to the
large variety of activities
to be funded, EENergy cannot provide a single standard methodology for this.
However, as long as the
methodology, rationale, and data presented for this energy reduction
calculation is transparent and
reasonable, it will be considered for reporting purposes. In cases of doubt,
EENergy will work with
beneficiaries to find a solution.
4 Data Collection & Benchmark
Q: Could you please specify which data will be collected from the companies?
The regular data collection for all beneficiaries will cover basic, company
level information on their
energy consumption as well as some general business metrics. This data is
specified in the Application
Form sections “Company Background Information” and “Background on Main
Investment Site” which
forms the first set of data to be collected. Very similar data will be
collected in the follow-up reporting
period in January 2026.
Q: As SMEs we have access to EEN services regardless. What is the added value
for us if we do not
receive the funding? What will motivate us to report our data in January 2026?
By applying to the EENergy open call you are committing to providing your data
at the described
reporting period. Providing data in January 2026 will grant you access to a
tailored energy efficiency
benchmark report, which will inform you about your energy efficiency performance
in comparison
with other SMEs from your region, country, industry, and those of a similar
size. This will allow you to
identify further areas for energy efficiency improvement and monitor the
progress of your company.
Q: Must energy bills be uploaded in English?
No, this is not necessary. You may upload bills in your regional language / the
language you receive
them in. The most important aspect is to ensure that the figures for
consumption and costs are clearly
readable.
Q: What happens if a company that does not receive the grant does not provide
data for the
benchmarking reports?
Companies must provide the relevant data and commit to sharing the requested
data in the future to
monitor progress, in order to be considered for selection. This commitment is
made in the application
form. If a company does not provide the data, they will not receive the
benchmark reports.
Q: Are gas, oil, electricity and solid fuels the only sources of energy
accounted for / analysed?
Gas, oil, and electricity are the three energy sources considered for data
gathering and benchmark
reports, whereas the overall energy consumption of the company will also be
considered (and hence
will include other sources of energy like coal, biomass, and geothermal).
Ultimately, across Europe
there are many types of energy sources, and for the purpose of consistent data
collection, we only
request specific information for gas, oil, electricity and solid fuels. For the
purpose of the 5% energy
reduction evaluation, other energy sources may be considered if the applicant
considers it relevant.
Q: Will we have access to the benchmark reports even if we do not apply to the
programme?
No, companies must apply to the programme and provide the data at the
application stage in order
to access the first benchmark report. The following benchmark reports will be
conditional on the
company continuing to provide updated data in the corresponding reporting
periods.
Q: Does the data that I provide as part of the application process or during
subsequent reporting
periods have to be accurate?
The data provided by an SME during the application form, or any future
reporting period should be as
accurate as possible. This data will be used to generate the previously
mentioned benchmarking
reports. This data will also be used to monitor the impact of the programme and
will generate
evidence to inform similar programmes in the future. Auditing of provided data
will also be carried
out to ensure accurate data is provided.
Q: My final accounts for 2024 have not yet been closed or finalised, how can I
report accurate values
for revenues, costs, and energy consumption for 2024 in this instance?
For the purposes of the data collection, values accurate to the cent are not
required, hence
preliminary values (e.g., from ongoing accounting activities) can be provided
at this stage as long as
they are a good indication of the actual figures. We will accept best
estimates, however it is in your
best interests to provide accurate data in order to ensure that the tailored,
individualized benchmark
reports are as informative as possible.
Q: Our rent includes office space and warehouse space paid directly to the
landlord. Since our
consumption is relatively low compared to the overall facility where we are
based, we do not get a
separate electricity bill – it’s considered to be included in the rental costs.
What should we report
for the energy consumption data and the corresponding bill?
Please ask your landlord for an estimate of your energy consumption. This
should be provided in the
form of a statement/letter addressed to your company and can be uploaded in
lieu of an energy bill.
Q: We do not receive our energy bills quarterly or monthly, but on another
frequency. How should
we complete this section of the application?
Please select “other” and specify the frequency of the bills. In the
attachment, please upload the
energy bills available and ensure that the required period (October – December
2024) is included.
5 General Questions
Q: What is the maximum amount of grants that can be provided to a single
country?
There is no fixed maximum number of grants per country as it depends on the
number of applicants,
the spread of the applications, and the requested budgets. The selection
process will ensure the
geographic distribution is as fair as possible.
Q: Are self-employed people eligible?
Self-employed people may be eligible depending on the legal structure of their
economically active
entity. Applicants must fulfil all criteria set out by the European
Commission’s SME definition. Single
persons as legal entities are not eligible.
Q: Is aid compatible for SMEs that belong to a group or holding company?
Companies will only be eligible if they meet the SME requirement. In case the
company belongs to a
group or a holding, this must be considered when evaluating the SME criteria.
The company must take
the necessary steps to ensure that they are considered an SME according to
these criteria, for
example, by utilising the self-assessment SME Questionnaire.
Q: Are SMEs based in Switzerland eligible to participate in the EENergy open
call?
No, companies from Switzerland are not eligible to participate as they are not
part of the SMP.
Q: Are SMEs based in the United Kingdom eligible to participate in the EENergy
open call?
No, companies from the UK are not eligible to participate as they are not part
of the SMP.
6 EEN-related Questions
Q: My company is located in a country without an existing EEN node or without
an EEN sustainability
advisor. How can I participate in the call?
Albania, Liechtenstein, and Moldova are part of the Single Market Programme,
but do not currently
have an operational EEN node. If you are from one of these countries, please
get in touch with the
EEN Sustainability Advisor in the closest geographical proximity to you, they
will assist you with the
next steps. You can find all offices via this link:
https://een.ec.europa.eu/local-contact-points
Q: I have been unable to contact my local EEN sustainability advisor. Can I
still apply?
No, cooperation with the local EEN sustainability advisor and the production of
an action plan is a
prerequisite for applying for this call. Please contact your local EEN contact
point and request their
support to engage with the local EEN sustainability advisor. If you have
further trouble making contact,
please write to the EENergy helpdesk.
Q: My local EEN sustainability advisor is being unresponsive and not supporting
me on the definition
of my action plan. What can I do?
Please contact the EENergy helpdesk with details of the issue and we will
endeavour to resolve the
situation.
Q: Is there more information available regarding the process of the mandatory
assessment
performed by the EEN sustainability advisors?
The toolset and methodology for the mandatory assessment is not publicly
available. All EEN
sustainability advisors have received detailed instructions and training on the
process for conducting
the mandatory assessment and formulating the action plan and can explain the
approach during your
cooperation.
Q: I am interested in accessing EEN services but do not wish to apply to
EENergy. What options do I
have?
EEN services are available to all SMEs where a regional network node is
established. All offices can be
identified at this link: https://een.ec.europa.eu/local-contact-points
Q: Can EEN Advisors other than sustainability advisors support applications of
interested
companies?
Other EEN advisors can also be involved in the process; however, the advisors
need to be sure they
deliver sustainability advice of sufficient quality. Therefore, we encourage
support from the
sustainability advisors as much as possible. Each EEN consortium can always
chose to appoint more
Sustainability advisors – Please contact the help desk if you need help in
doing so.
Q: How should EEN report the services and action plan in Community?
The network advisor should report their work the same way as normal EEN
advisory services, ensuring
that the action plan is in line with the EENergy project goals, indicating the
service as “sustainability
service”. Content wise, the implementation plan should show how at least 5%
energy efficiency/
savings will be addressed. Please note, that the EENergy implementation plan
may be only a subset of
the overall action plan you prepare for your client.
Q: What are the requirements for the EEN Action Plan; is there a template?
There are no specific requirements for the EEN action plan beyond the normal
EEN requirements. The
requirements for the EENergy implementation plan are clearly described in the
call documents and
associated logic flow chart. The examples provided in Annex A of the Guideline
for Applicants
demonstrate how these requirements can be incorporated into an EENergy
implementation plan.
Q: Can previously carried out sustainability assessments and action plans be
considered for
EENergy?
Yes, but the assessment and action plan should be updated and/or adapted to fit
to the scope and
budget of EENergy. The action plan uploaded in the internal reporting tool of
the EEN – EEN Connect
must specifically mention EENergy and fit to the requirements of the call.
Alternatively a service tab can be added detailing the individual approach that
shall lead to at least 5%
energy efficiency/ savings and the actions foreseen to be carried out if
obtaining the grant.
Q: Does the Hub & Spoke model apply as usual for reporting achievements?
E.g. to whom is
achievement attributed in case a client is referred by an EEN expert from one
organization and
receives shared services by a Sustainability advisor from another organization?
The Achievement is listed with the hub, e.g. network node of origin of the
primary network client. If
the network services/ realisation of the EENergy grant involves further network
partners (or their
respective clients) the regular achievement guidelines and procedures apply.
Q: Can a company from my region be supported from a Sustainability Advisor
coming from another
region, but who is still part of my consortium?
Yes, the prerequisite is an action plan and confirmation from the
sustainability advisor on the client’s
application. This needs to be coordinated between the two network partners
involved.
Q: Where can I find the action plan assessment tool for sustainability advisors?
The action plan assessment tool is available online in the EENergy Workspace in
Connect [accessible
for EEN staff only].
Q: My client has submitted their application, however there are errors which
need to be corrected.
Should I reject the application or ask them to change it first?
Please inform your client that corrections are required on the application
form. They can continue to
change their answers until the call deadline. Once they have updated the
answers, they should
resubmit their application. The EEN advisor will not receive a new email;
however, they should use
the link in the first notification email to confirm the application.
Q: I have not received a notification email even though my client has submitted
an application, what
should I do?
Please check with your client to make sure your email was correctly entered.
Next, please check your
spam folder to see if the email is there. Finally, please check your profile
settings on the grant platform
(if you have created an account there) and make sure you have enabled the
option to receive your
notification emails. Once all these steps have been taken, please contact the
helpdesk so that we can
generate a new email approval for you.