The European Commission has approved the addition of five new cross-border renewable energy projects (CB RES) to the official CB RES list. With this latest round, a total of 13 projects now hold the status of cross-border renewable energy projects, which entitles them to apply for financial support under the CB RES window of the CEF Energy programme.

The newly added projects are:

• Offshore Wind Farm Liivi Bay: The project aims to build a large offshore wind farm located in the Baltic Sea. It will be constructed in Estonian waters in the Gulf of Riga and connected to the Estonian national transmission grid. The wind farm is expected to reach an installed capacity of 1 GW and start producing electricity in 2031. It will contribute to Estonia’s 2030 renewable electricity targets while also supporting Latvia’s energy transition.

• Utilitas Eleja-Jonišķis Wind Farm: Located on the border between Latvia and Lithuania, this onshore wind farm will reach an installed capacity of 200 MW by 2028, giving a strong boost to renewable energy supply in both countries. The project is strategically positioned to connect to the 330 kV Viskaļi–Mūša transmission line, thereby enhancing the stability of the regional transmission grid and strengthening energy independence.

• Comprehensive Offshore Renewable Energy Studies (CORES): This project paves the way for future cross-border deployment of floating offshore wind in Portugal in cooperation with Luxembourg. It will assess offshore wind zones, grid reinforcement and auction models, helping to unlock up to 10 GW of offshore wind capacity in Portugal. The project also promotes cooperation on green hydrogen, port infrastructure, and energy systems planning.

• Medlink Renewable Generation (MedGen): This flagship North-South cooperation project aims to install 10 GW of solar and wind energy in Algeria and Tunisia, equipped with dedicated battery energy storage systems. Two 2 GW HVDC interconnectors will export up to 22.8 TWh/year of clean electricity to Italy (outside the scope of the CB RES project). This makes MedGen a leading initiative that promotes sustainable development, regional integration, and the EU’s energy diversification efforts.

• Twin Heat: The project will decarbonize the district heating systems of the twin cities of Słubice (Poland) and Frankfurt (Germany) by installing renewable-based heating infrastructure, including biomass boilers and cross-border heat exchange. The project is an example of heat energy integration, contributing to lower emissions, cleaner air, and higher energy efficiency in urban heating systems.

All these projects are key to strengthening Europe’s energy security, fostering cross-border cooperation, and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies in support of the EU’s energy and climate objectives. The current list has already been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for a two-month scrutiny period (which may be extended by an additional two months upon their request) and will be officially published in the Official Journal of the EU only after this period, entering into force 20 days later.

Source: European Commission