1.

A fund to support investments proposed by the beneficiary Member States, including the financing of small-scale investment projects, to modernise energy systems and improve energy efficiency shall be established for the period from 2021 to 2030 (the "Modernisation Fund"). The Modernisation Fund shall be financed through the auctioning of allowances as set out in Article 10, for the beneficiary Member States set out therein.

The investments supported shall be consistent with the aims of this Directive, as well as the objectives of the communication of the Commission of 11 December 2019 on "The European Green Deal" and Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 and the long-term objectives as expressed in the Paris Agreement. The beneficiary Member States may, where appropriate, use the resources of the Modernisation Fund to finance investments involving the adjacent Union border regions. No support from the Modernisation Fund shall be provided to energy generation facilities that use fossil fuels. However, revenue from allowances covered by a notification pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Article may be used for investments involving gaseous fossil fuels.