Demonstration of rSOC operation for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilisation

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02 aims to support projects demonstrating reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) technology for hydrogen production and utilization within local grid systems. Eligible applicants must form a consortium of at least three independent legal entities, each from different EU Member States or Associated Countries, with one member required to be affiliated with either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research.

The funding is structured as a lump sum grant, with a maximum contribution of €8 million per project. The initiative focuses on validating the performance, reliability, and economic viability of MW-scale rSOC systems, expected to start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and reach TRL 7 by the project's conclusion. Applications will be accepted in a single-stage submission process, opening on February 10, 2026, with a deadline of April 15, 2026.

The project should deliver rSOC systems capable of switching between hydrogen production (electrolysis mode) and electricity generation (fuel cell mode), with a minimum electrolysis capacity of 1 MW. Key performance indicators include achieving a net roundtrip electrical efficiency of at least 50% by 2030 and reduced switching times between modes. The project must also ensure long operational hours in various conditions while maintaining hydrogen purity.

Co-funding is expected to supplement grant funding, demonstrating the project's financial viability. Outcomes from the project aim to support the European energy transition by integrating renewable energy sources and enhancing the synergies between electricity and hydrogen grids.

Overall, this opportunity seeks innovative projects that utilize rSOC technology to address challenges in energy storage and grid management, fostering a decarbonized energy system in Europe.

This EU funding opportunity, under the Horizon Europe program and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU), aims to support the demonstration of reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) systems for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilization. The call, HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02, falls under the HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA) and offers a lump sum grant with a single-stage application process. The planned opening date is February 10, 2026, and the deadline for submission is April 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution is EUR 8.00 million.

The core objective is to validate the performance, reliability, and economic viability of MW-scale rSOC systems in real-world conditions. This involves designing, developing, installing, and operating rSOC systems to provide services to both electric and hydrogen grids, or proxy environments, including heat recovery. When operating in electrolysis mode, the system should produce hydrogen, compress it, and inject it into hydrogen infrastructure or a storage solution. In fuel cell mode, the system should consume hydrogen to produce electricity.

Expected outcomes include:

Integration of rSOC to enhance coupling between hydrogen and electricity grids.
Definition of best practice guidelines and support for regulation of reversible systems for sector coupling and grid balancing.
Contribution to European energy supply and exploitation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) through Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) solutions.
Integration of scalable and replicable rSOC-based LDES solutions into European energy strategies and infrastructure planning.

The project should contribute to the Clean Hydrogen JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) objectives and KPIs, specifically:

Pillar 1 (Renewable Hydrogen Production, Electrolysis): Making renewable hydrogen competitive by scaling up rSOC systems, increasing efficiency, and enhancing profitability through electricity generation.
Pillar 3.2 (Hydrogen end uses Clean heat and power, Stationary fuel cells): Enhancing the flexibility of systems in operation through reversible fuel cells.

Key requirements for the rSOC system include:

Minimum capacity of 1 MW in electrolysis mode, with modules providing at least 10 kW electrolysis power.
Design to deliver services to the electricity infrastructure, contributing to sector coupling and energy system flexibility.
Connection to the electricity grid, with a hydrogen storage system for flexible operation.
Leveraging hydrogen and/or biofuels/biogas grid connection for continuous operation.
Operation for over 5,000 hours under dynamic conditions, including both SOFC/SOEC modes and switching, with H2 purity at least 99.5%.
High ramp-up speed and cycling capability.
Effective heat management strategies.
Demonstration of at least 1000 hours of electrolysis operation at thermoneutral voltage.
Infrastructure for injecting hydrogen into the hydrogen grid or a storage facility, with a compressor unit to ≥5 bar output.
Implementation of advanced control strategies and robust system design.
Exploration of reversible systems as a Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) option.
Comprehensive development and monitoring guidelines for rSOC-based systems.
Techno-economic analysis focusing on capital and operational costs, system lifetime, performance, and market participation.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be addressed:

Roundtrip electrical efficiency (net) of the whole system ≥50% by 2030, targeting ≥60% by 2035.
Switching mode time from one configuration to the other equal to at least 5 min by 2030, targeting ≤2 min by 2035.
Warm start time of at least 10 min achievable by 2030, targeting 5 min by 2035.
Low electrical energy consumption in electrolysis mode (<37 kWh/kg).
Low level of stack degradation (<0.3%/1000 h).
Specific cost of stacks <1000 €/kWFuel Cell.

The call builds on previous European projects such as REFLEX, SWITCH, REACTT, SO-FREE, and 24_7 ZEN. It expects the use of Guarantees of Origin (GOs) to prove the renewable character of produced/used hydrogen and foresees collaboration with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for activities developing test protocols.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. Purchases of equipment, infrastructure, or other assets (specifically reversible solid oxide cells system, hydrogen storage, and related infrastructure) can be declared as full capitalised costs. Subcontracting is allowed only to entities in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Beneficiaries must inform the granting authority if the results could contribute to European or international standards.

The proposal page limit is 70 pages. At least one partner in the consortium must be a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. Activities are expected to start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project.

This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the deployment of rSOC technology by validating its performance and economic viability in real-world, MW-scale applications. It seeks to integrate rSOC systems into the energy infrastructure, enhance sector coupling, and support the transition to a decarbonized energy system. The call encourages projects that can demonstrate the potential of rSOCs as a long-duration energy storage solution, contributing to a more resilient and flexible European energy grid.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe and Clean Hydrogen JU funding, eligible applicants are likely to include a mix of: research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant stakeholders involved in hydrogen and energy technologies. The requirement for at least one partner to be a member of Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research suggests a focus on established industry and research players.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Innovation Action, utilizing a lump sum grant mechanism. Capital expenditures (CAPEX) for the reversible solid oxide cell system may be funded, while operating expenses (OPEX) will not be funded.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, not a single applicant. The text specifies that "At least one partner in the consortium must be a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research," implying multiple partners are needed to form a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. Subcontracting is limited to these target countries. 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 target sector is primarily energy, with a strong focus on clean hydrogen technologies, renewable energy integration, and long-duration energy storage. Sub-sectors include: hydrogen production (electrolysis), fuel cells, electricity grid infrastructure, energy storage, sector coupling, and potentially heat recovery.

Mentioned Countries: The text does not explicitly mention specific countries, but refers to EU Member States and Associated Countries as the eligible regions.

Project Stage: The project activities are expected to start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project. This indicates a development and demonstration stage, moving from technology validation in a relevant environment to demonstration in an operational environment.

Funding Amount: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call for proposals.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs, primarily capital expenditures (CAPEX) related to the rSOC system.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process, based on the "single-stage" designation in the call information.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text mentions that actions performed at high TRL level are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders. It is of added value that such leverage is shown through the private investment in these specific topics.

Summary: This opportunity is a call for Innovation Actions under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU). It seeks to fund projects that demonstrate the operation of MW-scale reversible Solid Oxide Cell (rSOC) systems for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilization. The primary goal is to validate the performance, reliability, and economic viability of rSOC technology as a long-duration energy storage solution that can enhance the coupling between the electricity and hydrogen grids, supporting the integration of renewable energy sources and contributing to a decarbonized energy system. Projects should design, develop, install, and operate rSOC systems, demonstrating their ability to provide services to the electricity grid, produce hydrogen for injection into hydrogen infrastructure, and operate dynamically in both electrolysis and fuel cell modes. A key requirement is that at least one partner in the applying consortium must be a member of Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. The funding is provided as a lump sum, with a maximum contribution of EUR 8.00 million per project, and is intended to cover capital expenditures (CAPEX) related to the rSOC system. Projects are expected to start at TRL 5 and reach TRL 7 by project completion.