The LIFE Clean Energy Transition 2023 call for proposals is now open.
 
Among the 13 policy-driven topics, the LIFE-CET-BUILDSKILLS topic aims to increase the number of skilled building professionals at all levels of the building design, operation and maintenance value chain. Proposals should develop, test, validate and prepare the deployment of new and/or the upgrade of existing training and qualifications schemes, and make sure this is tested and validated during the project’s lifetime.

Applicants are invited to focus on one out of five thematic areas, namely:

• the skills needed to implement core provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (e.g. for building energy audits, inspection of HVAC systems, renovation passports, etc.);
• the skills supporting the decarbonisation of the building stock (e.g. for deep renovation, (n)ZEBs, circular construction, BIM, building smartness, etc.);
• the skills required for small-scale renewable energy deployment and energy system integration;
• innovative on-site training methods as part of renovation projects (especially for on-site workers/ craftspeople)
• the skills for the implementation and effective operation of integrated home renovation services (one-stop-shops).

The LIFE-2023-CET-HEATPUMPS (Scope B) aims to increase the number of skilled heat pump (HP) installers and other relevant professionals, thereby reducing the growing gaps in certain markets.

To that end, proposals should undertake one or more of the following:

• Identify profiles and set up actions to attract and reskill professionals from other sectors with skills transferable to the HP sector;
• Identify and quantify skills and workforce gaps at the local/regional/national level and/or build on existing solid gap analyses and set up actions (e.g. new or upgraded training/qualification schemes) to incentivise/facilitate the upskilling of the workforce, especially installers; strengthen skills for professionals to integrate heat pumps as part of building renovation projects and skills for integrated solutions (e.g. HP+PV);
• Support cooperation between trades and/or among national associations and other relevant stakeholders to develop, test, and disseminate widely agreed EU-wide competencies, content guidelines for specialised training programmes, and core training material replicable and adaptable to local contexts;
• Support the set-up of state-of-the-art training facilities for heat pump installers (excl. infrastructure costs).

Furthermore, the LIFE-2023-CET-HEATPUMPS (Scope A) is also open for actions stimulating large-scale demand for heat pumps in existing buildings through the development, demonstration, upscale and/or replication of alternative business and/or delivery models.

For the BUILDSKILLS topic, proposals can be submitted by a single applicant from an eligible country.

For the HEATPUMPS topic, proposals should include minimum three applicants from different eligible countries.

Proposals are supported with a 95% co-funding rate. 

The deadline to submit proposals is 16 November 2023.

Interested? For more information refer to the full text of the BUILDSKILLS and HEATPUMPS topic and check the conditions to participate in the call. 

Recordings from the LIFE CET info sessions are also available.

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme aims to facilitate the transition towards an energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy; it does this by supporting projects that inter alia help create favourable regulatory frameworks, build capacity, promote the market up-take of innovative solutions, mobilise investments and empower consumers and communities.