Effects of CO2-stream impurities on CO2 transport and storage

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-25 focuses on the effects of CO₂ stream impurities on transport and storage systems for carbon dioxide. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under Cluster 5, and aims to fund research and innovation actions (RIA). The budget allocated for this topic in 2025 is approximately €10 million, with the expectation to fund about two grants. The application process is a single-stage procedure with a deadline set for September 2, 2025.

The primary objective is to address the challenges of designing and ensuring the safe operation of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructures, particularly regarding how impurities in CO₂ streams can affect the behavior of these systems. This includes concerns related to the chemical and thermophysical properties of CO₂, which can lead to issues like phase behavior changes during transport and corrosion of infrastructure.

Funded projects will aim to:

1. Enhance understanding of how impure CO₂ streams impact transport networks and storage facilities, including both engineered and geological barriers.
2. Contribute to the development of guidelines and standards informed by the physical and chemical behavior of impure CO₂.

Projects focusing on transport may involve more detailed recommendations for pipeline and ship offloading facilities, as well as public safety protocols and protective material suggestions. For those centered on storage, the emphasis will be on safety requirements, material protection strategies, and monitoring technologies to safeguard against integrity issues in storage complexes.

Themes that funded projects could address include transient flow modeling in pipelines, thermodynamic and corrosion modeling, geochemical behaviors of reservoir components, and the economic impacts associated with maintaining low impurity levels in CO₂ capture, transport, and storage processes.

The project encourages collaboration with entities from different EU and associated countries. The use of European research infrastructures, such as ECCSEL, is supported but not required, and there is a strong emphasis on synergy with standardization activities.

Participants must comply with general conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, which include criteria on admissibility, eligible countries, and capabilities. Funding will be provided as a lump sum covering eligible project costs, with no co-funding required.

This call promotes research that will ultimately facilitate enhanced safety and operational standards for carbon capture and storage technologies, contributing to climate mitigation strategies within the EU framework.

This is a Horizon Europe call focusing on the effects of CO2 stream impurities on CO2 transport and storage systems. The call, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-25, falls under Cluster 5 and aims to support research and innovation actions (RIA). The total budget allocated for this topic in 2025 is 10,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that approximately two grants will be awarded. The call follows a single-stage submission process, with the opening date set for May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The grant agreement will be a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant.

The core challenge addressed is the design and safe operation of CO2 transport and storage systems, particularly concerning the impact of impurities in CO2 streams. These impurities can significantly alter the chemical and thermophysical properties of CO2, affecting its behavior during transport (via pipelines and shipping) and storage (in geological formations). The call emphasizes the importance of maintaining CO2 stream purity to prevent issues like two-phase flow in pipelines and corrosion of infrastructure. It also references Directive 2009/31/EC, which regulates CO2 stream composition to protect storage site integrity and human health.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:

1.  A better understanding of how impure CO2 flows affect transport networks and storage complexes, including engineered and geological barriers.

2.  Contributions to relevant guidelines and standardization work, informed by improved knowledge of the physical and chemical behavior of impure CO2.

To achieve these outcomes, projects are expected to deliver specific results based on whether they focus on transport or storage:

For transport-focused projects:

*  Recommendations for the design and operation of pipelines and ship offloading facilities.
*  Recommendations for public health and safety requirements.
*  Protective and mitigating material recommendations.
*  Approaches and monitoring technologies to prevent adverse effects on transport infrastructure integrity.

For storage-focused projects:

*  Recommendations for public health and safety requirements.
*  Protective and mitigating material recommendations.
*  Approaches and monitoring technologies to prevent adverse effects on the integrity of the storage complex.

Across both transport and storage applications, projects should also provide:

*  Guidance and recommendations for technology providers, regulatory authorities, certification, and standardization bodies.
*  Ambitious dissemination actions to promote project results and support their uptake.

The call suggests several issues that projects could address, including:

*  Transient flow modeling in pipeline networks.
*  Combined thermodynamic and corrosion modeling.
*  Reactive transport and geochemical modeling of storage reservoirs.
*  Generation of experimental data on geochemical reactions of reservoir rocks, caprocks, well cements, and fault seals exposed to impure CO2.
*  Generation of experimental data on thermophysical and corrosive properties of CO2-rich mixtures.
*  Impact of impurities on equipment, especially non-metallic components.
*  Impact of impurities on the physical behavior and geochemical interaction of CO2 streams within storage complexes.
*  Impact of achieving very low impurity levels on the costs of capture, transport, and storage.
*  Development of a systematic method to understand impurity limits and define specifications for transport and storage infrastructure.

The call encourages the use of the European Research Infrastructure ECCSEL but does not mandate it. It also encourages synergy with standardization activities performed by CEN, CENELEC, ISO, and ETSI and promotes international cooperation, particularly with partners from the United States.

The general conditions for participation are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, including admissibility conditions, eligible countries, and financial and operational capacity requirements. The evaluation and award process will consider the need for a balanced portfolio of activities covering both transport and storage infrastructure. Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum.

Applicants are directed to the Funding & Tenders Portal and related guidance documents for application forms, evaluation templates, model grant agreements, and other relevant information. Partner search tools and helpdesks are also available to assist applicants.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to improve the understanding and management of CO2 stream impurities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems. It seeks to fund research that will lead to better design, operation, and safety standards for CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, ultimately supporting the wider deployment of CCS technology as a climate mitigation strategy. The call encourages a holistic approach, considering both the technical and economic aspects of impurity management, and promotes collaboration among researchers, industry, and regulatory bodies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) are often open to a broader range of entities, including those focused on dissemination and stakeholder engagement. HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND) are open to programme owners and managers.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a lump sum grant, as indicated by "HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]". There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, Horizon Europe projects, particularly RIAs and IAs, often involve consortia to bring together diverse expertise and resources.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The text refers to "Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes" and mentions that "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." This suggests that eligibility includes EU Member States, associated countries, and potentially certain non-EU countries as specified in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the climate, energy, and mobility sectors, specifically focusing on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The main focus is on CO2 transport and storage systems, including research on the effects of CO2-stream impurities.

Mentioned Countries: The United States is explicitly mentioned as a country with which international cooperation is encouraged. The text also refers to EU member states and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets research, development, and innovation activities. The scope includes generating experimental data, modelling, and developing recommendations for design, operation, and safety, suggesting projects should be at the research, development, validation, and demonstration stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-IA: €14,000,000 to €28,000,000, with some topics at €18,000,000 or €20,000,000
HORIZON-RIA: €5,000,000 to €12,000,000, with some topics at €10,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: €500,000 to €7,500,000, with some topics at €1,000,000, €3,000,000, or €4,000,000
HORIZON-COFUND: €69,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission" and the single-stage deadline model.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal at once.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement, except for HORIZON-COFUND actions, which by their nature involve co-funding.

Summary: This opportunity is a Horizon Europe Cluster 5 call focused on "Effects of CO2-stream impurities on CO2 transport and storage." It aims to address the challenges related to the design and safe operation of CO2 transport and storage systems, considering the impact of impurities on CO2 streams. The call encourages projects to deliver recommendations for pipeline and ship offloading design, public health and safety, and protective materials. It also seeks guidance for technology providers, regulatory authorities, and standardisation bodies. International cooperation, particularly with the United States, is encouraged. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the application process is single-stage. The call includes various types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND), each with different budget ranges and objectives. The overall goal is to contribute to the development of relevant guidelines and standardisation work for the transport and permanent storage of carbon dioxide, supporting the EU's industrial carbon management strategy.