Application process
NESOI Plus Application Process
NESOIPlus provides targeted technical assistance to support renewable and citizen energy communities in developing bankable, investment‑ready projects in Europe’s outermost island regions.
Get started : Explore the Guidelines for applicants
Below you can find a step-by-step overview of the NESOIPlus application process, from eligibility check to evaluation and selection.
01
Are you eligible?
Who can apply?
NESOIPlus is open to existing and new Energy Communities, including:
- Renewable Energy Communities (REC)
- Citizen Energy Communities (CEC)
- Municipal-driven initiatives
- Citizen-led and cooperative initiatives
- Rural and vulnerable-citizen initiatives
Energy communities may be already established or under development at the time of application.
Legal definitions (EU Clean Energy Package)
NESOIPlus follows the EU definitions set out in the Clean Energy Package:
Renewable Energy Community (REC)
(Directive (EU) 2018/2001 – recast Renewable Energy Directive)
Citizen Energy Community (CEC)
(Directive (EU) 2019/944 – recast Electricity Directive)
Status of the energy community
Already established communities must:
- Be legally constituted at the time of application
- Provide proof of legal status
- Comply with EU and national REC/CEC frameworks
New energy community initiatives may also apply if:
- They demonstrate commitment and stakeholder interest
- Formal legal establishment is completed during the technical assistance phase
- Appropriate supporting documentation is provided
02
Project and territorial eligibility
Which projects are supported?
Projects must support the development of energy communities and align with NESOIPlus energy transition objectives.
Priority technologies include:
- Solar PV
- Wind energy
- Geothermal systems
- Storage systems and EV infrastructure (when coupled with RES)
- Energy efficiency in buildings (linked to RES production)
- Renewable heating and cooling (including district networks)
Other technologies may be considered case by case.
Where must the project be located?
Eligible projects must be physically implemented in one of the following territories:
- Canary Islands (Spain)
- Azores Islands (Portugal)
- Martinique (France)
Energy communities may be legally established elsewhere, provided the investment and activities take place in one of the eligible islands.
03
Prepare and submit your application
Where to apply?
Applications must be submitted through the NESOIPlus online platform.
- Application forms available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French
- Applications may be submitted in any of these languages
- All technical assistance will be delivered in English
04
Build your application
The application is structured into clear, guided sections, designed to progressively build a complete picture of the project.
Application structure overview:
- Proposal at a glance
- Project description and main features
- Project maturity and readiness
- Strategic relevance and policy alignment
- Expected impacts and contribution to energy transition
- Declarations
- Attachments
05
Declarations and Attachments
Mandatory declarations
Applicants must sign:
- Declaration of Compliance with EU policies and laws
- Declaration of Honour on absence of exclusion situations
- Declaration of absence of conflict of interest
- Commitment to monitoring, reporting and capacity-building
- Attachments
Mandatory:
- A. Signed Declaration of Compliance
- B. Legal and governance documentation
Optional (recommended):
- Technical studies
- Financial documents
- Policy references
- Impact methodologies
- Maps, diagrams, stakeholder evidence
All attachments must be PDF format, max 2 MB per file.
06
Evaluation and selection
How applications are evaluated:
- Eligibility and completeness check
- Double independent evaluation
- Score comparison and validation
- Final ranking
Each proposal is assessed by two evaluators against all sections of the application.
07
Selected projects receive NESOIPlus support
Selected beneficiaries receive an Investment Concept, an all-in-one report that brings clarity, credibility, and momentum to your project, making it ready to engage potential financiers.
We combine everything you need to move forward:
- Clear technical direction
- Strong financial and economic insights
- A compelling business and funding strategy
- Practical support to connect with investors and financial partners
All support is tailored to your project’s maturity, so you get exactly what you need—no more, no less—to move from concept to investment-ready.