Concentrated solar thermal systems for decarbonising industrial processes

HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07 is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe framework, focusing on "Concentrated Solar Thermal Systems for Decarbonising Industrial Processes." This is an Innovation Action with a lump sum grant funding model capped at €6 million per project, totaling €12 million for the entire call. The application period opens on December 3, 2026, and closes on March 31, 2027. The opportunity encourages collaborative proposals from a variety of eligible entities, including research institutions, SMEs, large enterprises, and public authorities from EU Member States, EEA countries, and Associated Countries, with no explicit restrictions on applicant types.

The primary goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of concentrated solar thermal technologies that can meet at least 50% of annual industrial heat demand, with operational systems maintained for a minimum of six continuous months. Proposals must include detailed engineering plans, credible business cases, and milestones before deployment. The expected project stages involve demonstration and commercialization, emphasizing optimizing energy recovery and economic viability through profit-driven business models.

The call seeks innovative solutions showcasing CST systems capable of operating within a temperature range of 150°C to 400°C, integrating with existing industrial heating and cooling processes. While the results will be shared as grants rather than through cost reimbursement, successful project outcomes will play a critical role in meeting EU climate neutrality and industrial decarbonization goals.

Applicants are allowed to collaborate with organizations from non-EU Countries under certain provisions, aligning with Horizon Europe's broader regulatory framework. While there is no mandatory co-funding requirement, synergies with other EU projects and private sector funding are encouraged to bolster project feasibility. Furthermore, applicants are advised to utilize the Partner Search tool to form consortia, making collaborative efforts essential for obtaining funding under this call. Evaluation results will be expected within five months of the deadline, with grant agreements signed about eight months later.

In summary, this opportunity aims to foster innovation in renewable energy applications that can effectively reduce carbon emissions in industrial processes through the integration of concentrated solar thermal systems.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call, specifically under the BATTERIES and ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-02) program. The topic is HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07, titled "Concentrated solar thermal systems for decarbonising industrial processes". It is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date is 03 December 2026, and the deadline date is 31 March 2027, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome is to showcase the capacity of concentrated solar thermal systems to largely meet the heat demand of industrial processes and to achieve a yearly solar fraction of at least 50%. It also aims to increase the competitiveness of concentrated solar thermal for industrial applications, proven by an economically feasible business case, reducing the Levelised Cost of Heating (LCoH), and valorising and promoting the competitive advantages of the technology such as heat storage, flexibility, and energy security.

The scope of the proposals involves demonstrating concentrated solar technologies for heat production within the 150°C - 400°C range, combined with storage, feeding the generated heat to existing heating and/or cooling processes in industry, such as drying, melting, sterilisation, refrigeration, etc. The proposals should efficiently integrate the solar heat system in the selected industrial application and optimise energy efficiency and heat recovery of the industrial process to maximise the coverage of the heat demand by the solar system and to ensure an efficient solar investment. Hybridisation with other on-site renewable energy technologies could be considered. However, the core solutions are expected to focus on the concentrated solar thermal part and not on the industrial process or on the hybrid renewable energy technologies. The proposed solution is expected to be demonstrated in all possible solar incidence, and for a continuous period of at least 6 months. The replicability potential to other industrial processes should also be taken into account. The proposals are expected to address the techno-economic feasibility and the environmental impact of the proposed systems, as well as specific issues related to the integration of the solar systems in the industrial process such as surface availability. The proposal is expected to include a clear go/no go milestone before entering the deployment phase. Before this go/no-go milestone, the project is expected to submit: i) a proof of solid engagement of the industrial demonstration party, ii) all needed permits for deployment, iii) credible and detailed engineering plans, and iv) a complete business and implementation plan. The use of the European Research Infrastructure for concentrated solar power EU-SOLARIS is encouraged but not mandatory.

General conditions include:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) Lump Sum MGA Call-specific instructions Detailed budget table (HE LS) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The topic budget for the year 2027 is as follows:

HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 18,800,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 9,400,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2-06 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 37,800,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 18,900,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 12,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 6,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-08 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions: 30,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 1, Contributions around 30,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-09 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 43,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 1, Contributions around 43,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-10 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 9,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 4,500,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-15 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 36,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 3, Contributions around 12,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-24 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 20,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 10,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-30 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions: 16,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contributions around 8,000,000 EUR.
HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-31 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions: 5,000,000 EUR, Single-stage, Opening date: 2026-12-03, Deadline: 2027-03-31, Indicative number of grants: 1, Contributions around 5,000,000 EUR.

There is a partner search tool available to find collaborators for this topic. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header. There are no topic Q&As available at the moment.

For support, applicants are encouraged to read the provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions on proposal submission, evaluation, and grant management. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including NCPs in non-EU and non-associated countries. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding. The IT Helpdesk can assist with technical aspects of proposal submission, such as forgotten passwords and access rights. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk advise on standardisation in project proposals. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers, and funders. A Partner Search tool is available to help find partner organisations for proposals.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to fund innovation actions that demonstrate the potential of concentrated solar thermal technologies to decarbonise industrial processes. Projects should focus on integrating solar heat systems into industrial applications, optimising energy efficiency, and demonstrating the techno-economic feasibility and environmental impact of the proposed systems. The call encourages the use of the EU-SOLARIS research infrastructure and provides various support resources for applicants. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and successful projects are expected to showcase the capacity of concentrated solar thermal systems to meet a significant portion of industrial heat demand while increasing the competitiveness of the technology.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions, eligible applicants could include a range of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The inclusion of "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" suggests international entities are also potentially eligible, subject to specific provisions.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" designation. Additionally, there are HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions often involve multiple partners to achieve the desired outcomes, suggesting that consortia are likely encouraged or required, but this is not definitively stated. Partner search announcements are mentioned, which implies that consortia are possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to "Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes" which likely details eligible countries. The mention of "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" with specific funding provisions suggests that some international participation is possible, contingent on specific agreements and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the energy sector, specifically renewable energy and decarbonization of industrial processes. The focus is on concentrated solar thermal (CST) technologies and their application in industrial heating and cooling processes. This includes sectors involved in developing, demonstrating, and integrating CST systems, as well as industries that can utilize CST for their heating and cooling needs (e.g., drying, melting, sterilization, refrigeration).

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "EU" and "non-EU/non-Associated Countries". Therefore, the regions mentioned are the European Union and non-EU associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the demonstration and innovation stage, as the call is for "HORIZON Innovation Actions." Projects are expected to demonstrate concentrated solar technologies in industrial settings and achieve a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) suitable for industrial application. The inclusion of a "go/no go milestone" suggests that projects should be ready for deployment.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from €5,000,000 to €43,000,000. The indicative number of grants also varies, with some topics expected to fund one project and others expected to fund multiple projects. For example, HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-07 has a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to fund around 2 projects, while HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-09 has a budget of 43,000,000 EUR and aims to fund around 1 project.

Application Type: The application type is an "open call" with a single-stage submission process, as indicated by "Deadline model: single-stage".

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant, as defined under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the "Indicative number of grants" provides some insight. For example, a topic with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants suggests a higher potential success rate compared to a topic with a budget of 43,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant, assuming a similar number of applications. However, without knowing the expected number of applications, it is impossible to determine the success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: For HORIZON-COFUND actions, co-funding is required, as it is inherent in the co-fund mechanism. For other HORIZON-IA actions, the need for co-funding is not explicitly stated, but applicants should refer to the specific call conditions and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for detailed information on funding rates and potential co-funding requirements.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the BATTERIES and ENERGY theme, focuses on decarbonizing industrial processes through the demonstration and implementation of concentrated solar thermal (CST) technologies. The call seeks proposals that can showcase the capacity of CST systems to meet industrial heat demands, increase the competitiveness of CST for industrial applications, and address the techno-economic feasibility and environmental impact of these systems. Projects should demonstrate CST technologies for heat production within the 150°C to 400°C range, combined with storage, and integrated into existing industrial heating and cooling processes. The call encourages optimizing energy efficiency and heat recovery and considers hybridization with other renewable energy technologies. Applicants must present a solid engagement of the industrial demonstration party, all needed permits for deployment, credible engineering plans, and a complete business and implementation plan. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the call is open to entities from EU and associated countries, with some provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries. The application process is single-stage, with a planned opening date in December 2026 and a deadline in March 2027. The call aims to support innovation actions that can demonstrate the potential of CST in decarbonizing industrial processes and enhancing energy security.