Funding for energy, environment and sustainability

Possibly yes, but through a different instrument. Deploying proven technology falls under investment or operating cost support rather than innovation funding.

As a rule before the binding investment decision and before any contract is awarded. For investment funding, ordering equipment, signing a supply or service contract or starting construction work often already counts as the start of the project. Checking for funding only after that point can forfeit the claim. Eligibility should therefore be clarified as soon as the project becomes concrete.

It can be possible, but it has to be checked very carefully. In energy and environmental projects in particular, several funding logics often apply at once: development, investment, infrastructure or ongoing additional cost. The same costs, however, may not be funded twice. In practice we therefore first separate cost types and project phases: what is development work, what is investment, and what are operating costs or additional costs of the transition? Only then can we decide which programmes can be combined and where boundaries are needed.

Frequently yes, in some cases even through dedicated funding instruments. Feasibility studies can be a sensible first step where technology, economics, permitting or scale are not yet conclusively settled. Here too, one thing matters: check before commissioning whether the study itself qualifies and what requirements apply.