Control and operation tools for a RES-based energy system

This funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically within Cluster 5, which focuses on Climate, Energy, and Mobility. It aims to support projects that enhance the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the European electricity grid, with the goal of meeting the EU's target of at least 42.5% renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2030, aspiring to reach 45%. The call, designated as HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-17, is structured as a single-stage submission process, opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 2, 2025.

The funding encompasses multiple action types, including Horizon Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), which focus on innovative technologies and control mechanisms for integrating large volumes of RES at both distribution and transmission levels. Projects should address network constraints and improve grid flexibility, with expected budgets ranging from €14 million to €28 million. Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) support research and development efforts, while Horizon Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) facilitate networking and dissemination events, with budgets from €500,000 to €7.5 million. Horizon Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND) provide co-funding for national or regional programs with a total budget of €69 million allocated for one grant.

Participation requires demonstration and validation activities in at least two pilots from different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Projects must demonstrate an understanding of integrating RES, develop advanced technologies for these challenges, and propose best practices for increasing renewable uptake. The consortium must include at least two electricity transmission system operators (TSOs), four distribution system operators (DSOs), and collaborate with renewable energy suppliers and energy service providers.

General participation conditions are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, covering various criteria for admissibility, eligibility, and evaluation processes. Proposals must be submitted through the Funding & Tenders Portal, using specific application forms and templates. The evaluation will be based on the award criteria outlined in the work programme.

In summary, this opportunity encourages innovation and collaboration in renewable energy integration, targeting a variety of stakeholders including grid operators, energy suppliers, service providers, and research institutions to achieve ambitious climate and energy goals for 2030.

This is a description of a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically within Cluster 5, focusing on Climate, Energy and Mobility. The call, designated as 02-2025, aims to support projects that enhance the integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the European electricity grid. The primary goal is to improve the preparedness of the electricity system to meet the EU's binding target for 2030, which mandates a minimum of 42.5% renewables in gross final energy consumption, with aspirations to reach 45%.

The funding opportunity encompasses several topics, each with its own budget, type of action, and indicative number of grants. The call is structured as a single-stage submission process, with an opening date of May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The types of actions supported include:

Horizon Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA): These actions focus on designing and testing innovative technologies, processes, and control mechanisms for integrating large volumes of RES at distribution and transmission levels. Projects should address network constraints, increase grid flexibility, and ensure effective coordination between transmission and distribution grids. Budgets for these actions range from 14,000,000 EUR to 28,000,000 EUR, with varying numbers of grants expected per topic.

Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA): These actions support research and development activities aimed at improving grid performance and the efficiency of RES uptake. Budgets for these actions range from 5,000,000 EUR to 12,000,000 EUR, with varying numbers of grants expected per topic.

Horizon Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA): These actions support coordination and networking activities, such as workshops, studies, and dissemination events, to facilitate the integration of RES. Budgets for these actions range from 500,000 EUR to 7,500,000 EUR, with varying numbers of grants expected per topic.

Horizon Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND): These actions provide co-funding for national or regional programs that support research and innovation in the area of RES integration. The budget for this action is 69,000,000 EUR, with one grant expected.

Specific requirements for projects include:

Demonstration and validation of activities in at least two pilots located in different EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Demonstration of a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating RES into the existing energy system.

Development and testing of advanced technologies and control mechanisms to address these challenges, capitalising on solutions for digitalising the energy system.

Proposing a set of best practices and recommendations for the effective uptake of increased shares of renewables, suitable for reaching the EU's 2030 renewable energy targets.

Inclusion of at least two electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) and four distribution system operators (DSOs) in the project consortium.

Collaboration with at least three suppliers of energy from renewable sources (including wind and solar) and at least two providers of energy services for the grids (e.g., aggregation, demand response, energy storage).

Contribution to the BRIDGE initiative and active participation in its activities.

The general conditions for participation are detailed in Annexes A, B, C, D, F, and G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. These conditions cover admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria, evaluation and award processes, and legal and financial setup.

The application process involves submitting a proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal, using the specific application form templates available in the Submission System. The evaluation process will be based on the award criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Additional documents and guidance are available, including the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, and various helpdesks and support services. Partner search announcements are also available on the Funding & Tenders Portal to facilitate the formation of project consortia.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to foster innovation and collaboration in the field of renewable energy integration, supporting projects that develop and test advanced technologies, processes, and control mechanisms to enable a seamless transition to a RES-based energy system in Europe. It encourages participation from a diverse range of stakeholders, including grid operators, energy suppliers, service providers, and research institutions, to achieve the EU's ambitious climate and energy goals for 2030.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the expected project composition, eligible applicants would likely include electricity transmission system operators (TSOs), distribution system operators (DSOs), suppliers of energy from renewable sources (including wind and solar), and providers of energy services for grids (e.g., aggregation of energy supply and/or energy demand, energy storage). Research institutes, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations from eligible countries could also participate in consortia.

Funding Type: The funding type includes HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). The type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. These are primarily grants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium. Projects are expected to include at least two electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) and four distribution system operators (DSOs). Collaboration is also encouraged with at least three suppliers of energy from renewable sources and at least two providers of energy services for the grids.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are 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. The demonstration, test and validation of the activities should be carried out in at least two pilots in different EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is energy, specifically renewable energy integration, smart grids, and energy system digitalization.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The project stage is demonstration, test, and validation, as the activities should be carried out in at least two pilots. It also includes design and testing of innovative technologies, processes, and control mechanisms. Therefore, the project stage is primarily demonstration and validation, but also includes development.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. Some topics have a budget of EUR 500,000, while others have budgets of EUR 69,000,000. There are also topics with budgets of EUR 3,000,000, EUR 4,000,000, EUR 5,000,000, EUR 7,500,000, EUR 10,000,000, EUR 12,000,000, EUR 14,000,000, EUR 18,000,000, EUR 20,000,000 and EUR 28,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

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

Success Rates: The success rates can be inferred from the indicative number of grants and the budget allocated to each topic. For example, a topic with a budget of EUR 20,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants suggests that each grant could be around EUR 10,000,000. The actual success rate would depend on the number of proposals received.

Co-funding Requirement: The HORIZON-COFUND actions imply a co-funding requirement, but it is not explicitly stated whether other actions require co-funding.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within Cluster 5, focusing on climate, energy, and mobility. The call aims to improve the preparedness of the electricity system for integrating a high share of renewable energy sources (RES). It seeks projects that design, test, and validate innovative technologies, processes, and control mechanisms for the seamless integration of RES at distribution and transmission levels. The call includes various types of actions: Innovation Actions (IA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND), each with different funding ranges and objectives. Projects are expected to address network constraints, increase grid flexibility, and ensure effective coordination between transmission and distribution levels. A consortium approach is required, involving electricity transmission and distribution system operators, renewable energy suppliers, and energy service providers. The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, with potential participation from non-EU/non-Associated Countries under specific provisions. The application process is a single-stage submission, and the nature of support is primarily through grants. The call provides a range of funding opportunities, from smaller coordination and support actions to larger innovation actions, all geared towards advancing the integration of renewable energy into the European electricity system.