Delivery of industrial CCUS clusters – Societal Readiness pilot

The EU grant opportunity titled "Delivery of industrial CCUS clusters – Societal Readiness pilot" (HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-32) is part of the Horizon Europe program and focuses on fostering Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) in hard-to-abate industrial sectors. This call aims to support innovation actions, with an expected budget of €30 million to fund three projects, each receiving approximately €10 million.

Eligible applicants include a diverse range of entities such as research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and industrial associations, emphasizing substantial industrial involvement. The necessity for collaboration is highlighted by the requirement that projects be submitted as consortium efforts, mandating the inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) experts to address societal concerns related to CCUS technologies.

The geographic scope includes EU Member States, EEA countries, and Horizon Europe associated countries, with potential participation from enlargement countries like the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. The focus is on projects that operate at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-8, signaling a move towards demonstration and pre-commercial validation stages.

The application process involves a single-stage submission with proposals due by December 1, 2027, after the call opens on August 4, 2027. In terms of support, beneficiaries will receive financial grants, covering eligible costs in line with Horizon Europe regulations.

While co-funding is not expressly required, projects are encouraged to develop comprehensive funding strategies for scalable and sustainable operations beyond the EU grant. The evaluation process includes multiple phases assessing admissibility, eligibility, and alignment with award criteria, although all proposals are submitted together within a single stage.

In summary, this opportunity calls for the development of integrated CCUS clusters with a focus on societal readiness and collaboration among multiple stakeholders to ensure that technological advancements align with community needs. The overarching goal is to de-risk and expand the deployment of CCUS technologies in key industrial sectors, ultimately aiming for a comprehensive strategy for future large-scale projects.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-07), focusing on the delivery of industrial CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) clusters as a Societal Readiness pilot. The call aims to support innovation actions (HORIZON-IA) and coordination and support actions (HORIZON-CSA). The expected outcomes include near-to-market solutions for safe CCUS integration in energy- and carbon-intensive industries, a pipeline of projects with commercial scale-up potential, and a deeper understanding of societal needs and concerns related to CCUS technologies.

The scope of the projects should involve de-risking steps for developing local or regional industrial CCUS clusters, serving as a basis for future full-size projects with substantial industrial involvement. Projects should address detailed planning for retrofitting capture systems, demonstrating system components, identifying clustering potential, optimizing industrial symbiosis, developing tools for cluster design and operation, identifying potential regional users of CO2 infrastructure, assessing transport options, developing business models for CO2 transport networks, considering CO2 geological storage, preparatory actions for permitting, and scenarios for integrating CO2 infrastructure into energy networks.

Projects are expected to deliver a strategy for exploiting results, including scalability, commercialization, deployment, permitting, and funding sources (private equity, InvestEU, EU Catalyst Partnership, Innovation Fund, Regional Development policy funds). Public acceptability is crucial, requiring engagement with end-users and societal stakeholders.

This call is a Societal-Readiness pilot, requiring an interdisciplinary approach and effective contribution of SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) expertise to address societal needs and concerns.

The general conditions for participation include admissibility conditions (proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A, Annex E, and Part B of the Application Form), eligible countries (described in Annex B and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide), other eligible conditions (use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS if projects use satellite data), financial and operational capacity and exclusion (described in Annex C), evaluation and award criteria (described in Annex D), submission and evaluation processes (described in Annex F and the Online Manual), indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement (described in Annex F), and legal and financial set-up of the grants (described in Annex G). Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms are available in the Submission System, with standard forms for HE RIA and IA. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide and the HE MGA (Model Grant Agreement). Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, Climate, Energy and Mobility, and General Annexes), HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, decision authorizing lump sum contributions, rules for legal entity validation, and the EU Grants AGA.

The budget overview for 2027 includes several topics:

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-11: HORIZON-IA, 17,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 8,500,000 EUR contribution, 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-16: HORIZON-IA, 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 9,500,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-17: HORIZON-IA, 18,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 6,000,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25: HORIZON-IA, 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 9,500,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-26: HORIZON-IA, 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 9,500,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-27: HORIZON-IA, 22,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 7,500,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28: HORIZON-CSA, 6,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 6,000,000 EUR contribution, 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-32: HORIZON-IA, 30,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, around 10,000,000 EUR contribution, 3 grants.

Partner search announcements are available for collaboration, and the submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

Support is available through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on fostering the development and societal integration of CCUS technologies by funding innovation and coordination actions. It emphasizes the importance of industrial involvement, societal readiness, and a comprehensive approach to addressing the technical, economic, and social aspects of CCUS cluster development. The call provides various funding opportunities for projects that contribute to near-to-market solutions, commercial scale-up, and public acceptability of CCUS technologies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of Horizon Europe Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions, eligible applicants could include: research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, industrial associations, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders relevant to the energy and carbon-intensive industry. The call emphasizes substantial industrial involvement, suggesting that industry players are key applicants.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the call's focus on developing industrial CCUS clusters, optimizing industrial symbiosis, and engaging diverse stakeholders suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is highly encouraged, if not required. The need for interdisciplinary approaches and SSH expertise further supports the consortium model.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic focus is on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the Horizon Europe program. The call also mentions potential inclusion of enlargement countries such as the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova, suggesting some flexibility for applicants from these regions. 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.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: energy, climate, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries, and related industrial processes. It also emphasizes the importance of societal readiness, engaging end-users and societal stakeholders, and integrating SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) expertise.

Mentioned Countries: The following countries and regions are explicitly mentioned: Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova. The general scope implies EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of projects is described as "near-to-market solutions" and "a pipeline of projects that have the potential for commercial scale-up." This suggests that the program targets projects in the late development, validation, demonstration, and early commercialization stages. The projects are expected to be the de-risking first step to develop local or regional industrial CCUS clusters and to be the basis and orientation for future full-size projects.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call. Based on the provided budget overview, the funding ranges are:
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-11: EUR 17,000,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 8,500,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-16: EUR 28,500,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 9,500,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-17: EUR 18,000,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 6,000,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25: EUR 28,500,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 9,500,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-26: EUR 28,500,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 9,500,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-27: EUR 22,500,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 7,500,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28: EUR 6,000,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 6,000,000, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-32: EUR 30,000,000 (indicative grant of around EUR 10,000,000, 3 grants)

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text mentions that projects are expected to deliver a strategy for the exploitation of results that includes plans for scalability, commercialisation, deployment, permitting procedures, and identified public and private funding sources for CAPEX and OPEX, like private equity, the InvestEU, the EU Catalyst Partnership, the Innovation Fund, and possibly the Regional Development policy funds. This suggests that while not explicitly mandated, leveraging additional funding sources and demonstrating a pathway to financial sustainability beyond the grant is highly encouraged.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call focuses on the "Delivery of industrial CCUS clusters – Societal Readiness pilot." It seeks to fund projects that will de-risk and advance the development of local and regional industrial Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) clusters. These clusters should offer multi-source and multi-sink solutions for decarbonizing energy- and carbon-intensive industries. The call emphasizes projects with substantial industrial involvement that can serve as a foundation for future, larger-scale initiatives.

The scope of the projects should include detailed planning for retrofitting capture systems, demonstrating key system components, identifying clustering potential, optimizing industrial symbiosis, developing tools for cluster design and operation, identifying potential regional users of CO2 infrastructure, assessing transport options, developing business models for CO2 transport networks, considering geological storage, and leading to permitting.

A key aspect of this call is the "Societal Readiness pilot," which requires projects to deeply consider and respond to societal needs and concerns. This involves an interdisciplinary approach, including the meaningful involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise to facilitate the socio-technological interface and ensure that project objectives align with societal readiness activities.

Eligible applicants are expected to form consortia and should include a mix of research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and relevant stakeholders. The call is open to entities from EU member states and associated countries, with some potential for including participants from enlargement countries.

The funding is provided through Horizon Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), with grants ranging from approximately EUR 6 million to EUR 10 million per project, depending on the specific topic. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of December 1, 2027.

Overall, this call aims to foster the development and deployment of CCUS technologies while ensuring that these technologies are socially acceptable and aligned with broader societal goals for decarbonization and sustainable development.