EU invests heavily in energy infrastructure projects and innovation in steel and coal sectors

EU approves 1.25 billion euro investment in 41 energy infrastructure projects
Recently, EU member states approved a major investment project proposed by the European Commission to develop 41 energy infrastructure projects. This investment worth 1.25 billion euros, implemented under the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU program, will be funded by the Connecting Europe Fund (CEF) to focus on the development of 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects. The projects, which were launched in April 2024, attracted a record number of bids within the CEF, exceeding the original budget of 850 million euros.
It is understood that the projects approved for funding include electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructure, including 5 construction plans and 36 research plans. The European Commission will approve the grant in the coming weeks, after which the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) will begin formal agreements with stakeholders.
The head of CINEA said that this investment shows that both CEF and the European Commission have strengthened their commitment to achieving EU energy market integration and EU decarbonization goals.
The European Union invests 175 million euros in research and innovation in the steel and coal industries
The European Commission recently announced that it will fund the research program of the European Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), with a total budget of 175 million euros in 2025, to support collaborative research in the steel and coal industries, promote continuous innovation in the two industries, and achieve sustainable development. The first phase of this investment will be launched in February 2025. The first funding will focus on the steel industry, with a budget of 100 million euros to fund breakthrough technology research to promote near-zero carbon steelmaking; the second investment budget is 35 million euros, which will target coal-related projects, especially those that help manage the transformation of coal mines. In addition to the above major projects, the remaining 40 million euros of investment will be launched in June 2025, covering both coal and steel projects.
This comprehensive financing strategy emphasizes the importance of coal and steel in various industries, while recognizing the key role of steel in renewable energy technologies. The steel industry is an important part of the European economy, accounting for about 5% of the EU’s carbon dioxide emissions. The industry is working to reduce emissions and become more sustainable, but to achieve this, steelmakers are not only converting blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces, but are also researching new technologies. RFCS are in line with the goal of the European Green Deal to become climate neutral by 2050.