The European Commission will award nearly €650m in Connecting Europe Facility grants to 14 cross-border energy infrastructure projects across the EU.
The funding aims to strengthen energy security and integrate more renewable energy, according to the Commission.
For the first time, CEF support will also go to protecting critical energy infrastructure and to hydrogen works projects, reflecting the sector’s growing maturity.
Six electricity and smart grid projects will receive almost €470m, including €180.03m for Spain’s Aguayo II reversible pumped-storage hydro plant.
A further €112.58m will support resilience and protection measures in Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as part of the Baltic Synchronisation.
Slovakia’s Čierný Váh modernisation, combining pumped hydro and battery storage, will receive €62.63m.
Almost €103.69m is allocated to a Bulgaria-Romania smart grids scheme to upgrade and digitalise networks for secure renewable electricity flows.
Two additional electricity proposals, an internal Austrian link and the Greece–Egypt GREGY interconnector, will receive study grants.
More than €176m will be directed to hydrogen infrastructure, led by €120.11m for a German underground storage project in Gronau-Epe, the first hydrogen works project financed under CEF.
Other hydrogen studies in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Slovakia have also been selected.
Member States endorsed the award proposal on 15 January, with formal adoption due in the coming weeks before CINEA prepares grant agreements.
Commissioner for energy and housing Dan Jørgensen said: “A strong and independent Energy Union which delivers clean and cheap energy to consumers must be built on integrated and safe energy infrastructure.
“The projects we are supporting financially will enhance Europe’s competitiveness and energy security, bringing us on a steady pathway towards independence.”