Second Swiss Contribution 2019–2029

The overall objective of the Slovenian-Swiss Cooperation Programme is to contribute to the reduction of the economic and social disparities within the EU and within Slovenia, building upon and further strengthening the bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU and its Member States. Based on the Framework Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Swiss Federal Council on the Implementation of the Second Swiss Contribution to Selected Member States of the European Union to Reduce Economic and Social Disparities within the European Union (hereinafter: the Framework Agreement), which was signed on 28 August 2023 and ratified on 21 December 2023, Slovenia is eligible to receive a second Swiss contribution in the form of a non-refundable grant according to the agreed thematic areas and geographical allocation of funds and in accordance with the indicative allocation defined in the Country-Specific Set-Up (Annex to the Framework Agreement). Under the Slovenian-Swiss Cooperation Programme, the contribution is provided in the form of a non-refundable grant. Slovenia has proposed a support measure contributing to the specific objective of the second Swiss contribution "Protecting the environment and the climate", under the thematic area "Energy efficiency and renewable energy".

On 11 April 2025, Slovenia and Switzerland signed the Support Measure Agreement, which is the legal basis for the implementation of activities under the Swiss-Slovenian Cooperation Programme. On the same day, the Support Measure Implementation Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, acting as the national coordination unit for the second Swiss contribution, and the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy, acting as the programme operator; the agreement sets out the detailed arrangements for the implementation of activities under the supported measure – programme.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy programme

Within the thematic area, Slovenia will implement the programme entitled "Increasing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy in alpine regions" (hereinafter: the programme), representing a contribution of CHF 15.12 million, managed by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy. The programme contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency, promoting the use of renewable energy sources and raising awareness about the need to move to a low-carbon society. The programme also contributes to the transition from fossil fuels, to the use of renewable energy sources, which is in line with the current country targets for the share of renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030.

The programme foresees the implementation of three programme components to achieve the objectives of the second Swiss contribution:

• Programme component No 1: DIGI-LEC – Optimising energy efficiency and renewable energy planning through the digitalisation of local energy concepts (LECs),
• Programme component No 2: Promotion of energy communities with renewables and promotion of shallow geothermal energy use
  • Sub-component a – Increased share of renewable energy communities (RES communities),
  • Sub-component b – Replacement of fossil fuel boilers with geothermal heat pumps using shallow geothermal energy
• Programme component No 3: Piloting agri-photovoltaics.

Programme component 1 is predefined and will be implemented based on a public procurement. Programme component 2 will be implemented based on a call for proposals, while programme component 3 will be implemented based on a public call.

Switzerland will contribute up to 85% of the recognised eligible costs, with the remaining 15% provided by the Republic of Slovenia from the state budget.

For the support measure or programme implemented by Slovenia, the geographical allocation of the second Swiss contribution is such that at least 50% of the contribution is allocated to the less-favoured region (East Cohesion Region).

Technical support

Technical support is provided by the second Swiss programme for the preparation of support measures and for the efficient and effective implementation of the Slovenian-Swiss Cooperation Programme. Technical support includes funding for:

• A Technical Assistance Fund to cover expenditure referred to in Article 6.5 of the Regulation incurred by the national authorities referred to in Article 3.2 of the Regulation;
• The Support Measure Preparation Fund, which is intended to finance the preparation of a second-stage proposal for a support measure (programme) and expenditure on feasibility studies, the results of which will be used to design measures under programme component 1 and programme component 3.

In the context of the second Swiss contribution, a Technical Support Agreement in the total amount of CHF 880,000 was concluded on 18 October 2023 for the use of the technical support funds. Under this agreement, CHF 480,000 is available to Slovenia from the Technical Assistance Fund and CHF 400,000 from the Support Measure Preparation Fund. Switzerland will contribute 100% of the recognised eligible costs under the technical support.

The implementation of the second Swiss contribution will be fully completed on 3 December 2029.

Calls for proposals/public calls

Call for proposals for the co-financing of investments in renewable energy communities and shallow geothermal energy use for the period 2026–2029 (code: JR 2CH OVE 2025)

On 28 November 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy published the EUR 13.8 million call for proposals JR 2CH OVE 2025 for the co-financing of investments in renewable energy communities and shallow geothermal energy use for the period 2026–2029. The call is funded by the second Swiss contribution under the objectives of environmental protection, climate protection and the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

The subject of the call for proposals is the award of non-refundable grants for the co-financing of investments in renewable energy communities, including the construction of new renewable energy supply installations (solar energy) and investments in the replacement of fossil fuel boilers with geothermal heat pumps in the Slovenian secondary, tertiary and higher education sector. The call for proposals will support investments falling under one or both of the following sets:

• Set A: Promoting the establishment or development of renewable energy communities by supporting investments in installations for electricity generation from renewable energy sources with a total rated capacity of installed photovoltaic modules of at least 300 kW, which may also include the installation of a battery energy storage system with a storage capacity of up to 2 kWh per 1 kW of the nominal capacity of the installation for renewable energy communities;
• Set B: Investments in the replacement of fossil fuel boilers with geothermal heat pumps using shallow geothermal energy as a heat/cooling source, with a total rated thermal output of at least 50 kW, which may include one or more hot water storage tank.

Co-financing of EUR 13.8 million is provided by the Swiss Confederation through the second Swiss contribution planned under the specific objective "Protecting the environment and the climate", thematic area "Energy efficiency and renewable energy", programme "Increasing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy in alpine regions", programme component 2 "Promotion of energy communities with renewables and promotion of shallow geothermal energy use".

Applicants

Applicants for this call for proposals are public institutions in the secondary, post-secondary and higher education sectors. 

Application deadline

Three application opening dates are foreseen. The first application submission deadline is 15 April 2026, the second deadline is 11 November 2026, and the third deadline is 10 March 2027.

If the funds are exhausted before the final deadline, a special notice will be published on the Ministry's website Second Swiss contribution 2019–2029 | GOV.SI, on the Energetika portal and in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Link to tender documents

Call for proposals for the co-financing of investments in renewable energy communities and shallow geothermal energy use for the period 2026–2029 (code: JR 2CH OVE 2025) | GOV.SI

Contact

Green Transition Incentives Office
si-ch.mope@gov.si