The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) is hoping to secure funding for three projects that could boost energy production without damaging UK air quality.
Leaders at DECC have submitted a total of 12 ideas to the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the hope that three will receive significant investment.
All of the schemes will come under consideration in the next round of the European Union's New Entrant Reserve, which will see a pot of around 4.5 billion euros (£3.95 billion) set aside for low carbon projects.
Energy minister Charles Hendry has insisted he has every faith in the strength of the proposals put forward by DECC and is confident the European Commission will find the initiatives will pass its eligibility criteria assessments.
"Taking forward these sorts of technologies will be crucial to our move to a low carbon economy, providing green jobs as well as helping us lower emissions and increase energy security," he remarked.
Earlier this year, energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne said the use of renewables in Scotland would prove crucial to the UK's overall low carbon targets.
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