Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1204 of 10 May 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/856 as regards the application and selection procedures under the Innovation Fund

‘1 The implementing body shall collect the applications and organise the application procedure as determined pursuant to Article 9(2), point (d).’;

‘2 The two-phase application procedure shall consist of the following subsequent phases: (a) the expression of interest phase; (b) the full application phase. At the expression of interest phase, the project proponent shall submit a description of key project characteristics in line with the requirements laid down in the relevant call for proposals, including the description of the project’s effectiveness, degree of innovation, and maturity as specified in Article 11(1), points (a), (b) and (c). At the full application phase, the project proponent shall submit a detailed description of the project and all supporting documentation, including the knowledge-sharing plan.

3 Where the one-phase application procedure applies, the project proponent shall submit a full application as described in paragraph 2, third subparagraph.’;

1 Based on the applications received, the implementing body shall assess, for each project, the eligibility in accordance with Article 10a(8) of Directive 2003/87/EC. The implementing body shall then proceed with the selection of eligible projects under paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article.

2 Based on the applications received, the implementing body shall draw up a list of the projects that meet the selection criteria laid down in Article 11 and shall proceed with the project evaluation and ranking based on the selection criteria laid down in that Article. For the purposes of that evaluation, the implementing body shall compare the projects with the projects in the same sector as well as with projects in other sectors. At the end of the evaluation, the implementing body shall draw up a list of pre-selected projects.

3 Where the implementing body concludes that a project meets the selection criteria laid down in Article 11(1), points (a), (b), (d) and (e) and, where applicable, the selection criterion established in accordance with Article 11(2), but does not meet the criterion laid down in Article 11(1), point (c), the implementing body shall assess whether that project has the potential to meet that selection criterion if further developed. Where the project has such a potential, the implementing body may award project development assistance to the project concerned or, where the Commission awards project development assistance, propose to the Commission to award project development assistance to the project.

4 The list of pre-selected projects referred to in paragraph 2 and, where applicable, the suggestion referred to in paragraph 3 shall be communicated to the Commission and shall include at least the following: (a) a confirmation of the compliance with the eligibility and selection criteria; (b) details on project evaluation and ranking; (c) total project costs and relevant costs referred to in Article 5, in euro; (d) the request for the total Innovation Fund support in euro, (e) the projected amount of greenhouse gas emissions to be avoided; (f) the projected amount of energy to be produced or stored; (g) the projected amount of CO2 to be stored; (h) information on the legal form of the Innovation Fund support requested by the project proponent.

5 On the basis of what was communicated pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article, the Commission shall, after consulting the Member States in accordance with Article 21(2), adopt the award decision specifying the support to the selected projects and, where appropriate, draw up a reserve list.

By derogation from Articles 12 and 12a, a specific selection procedure may be applied to small-scale projects.’;

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.