Implementing the new TEN-E Regulation

What will change with the adoption of the TEN-E Regulation?

At the EU level, the main differences regarding revised (new) and original (old) TEN-E Regulation are:

• European Union list of projects of common interest (PCI) has been expanded with the projects of mutual interest (PMI, infrastructural project between at least one EU country and at least one "third" country), which are now excluded from the Energy Community selection process.
• Project categories eligible for support have been changed:
  •  natural gas and oil being excluded,
  • offshore grids, hydrogen, electrolysers and smart gas grids being included
  • at the Energy Community level also carbon dioxide transport and storage projects are included;
• Eligibility criteria for smart electricity grid projects have been relaxed;
• Eligibility criteria for hydrogen, electrolysers and smart gas grids have been defined;
• Eligibility of projects for European Union financial assistance has been set up,
  • In case of the EU this includes PMI projects under specific circumstances and pumped-storage hydropower plants (previously not eligible), but excluding electrolysers
  • At the Energy Community level, this includes possible Union technical and financial assistance from the Instrument of Pre-Accession Assistance, the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument and the Ukraine Facility); 

How does the Secretariat support the implementation process?

ECRB Statement on good practices for the treatment of investment requests

Article 16 of the revised TEN-E Regulation, as adopted in the Energy Community, defines that the Energy Community Regulatory Board shall adopt a recommendation for identifying good practices for the treatment of investment requests for projects of Energy Community interest by 24 June 2024.

As soon as such a project of Energy Community interest has reached sufficient maturity, and is estimated to be ready to start the construction phase within the next 36 months, the project promoters, after having consulted the TSOs from the Contracting Parties which receive a significant net positive impact from it, shall submit an investment request. That investment request shall include a request for a cross-border cost allocation and shall be submitted to all the relevant national regulatory authorities concerned.