Fixed Premium Auction for RFNBO and/or electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen production for the maritime and aviation sectors

The Innovation Fund 2025 Auction Hydrogen call, designated as INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2, is now accepting applications. This funding opportunity is part of the broader Innovation Fund (INNOVFUND) initiative. It specifically provides INNOVFUND Fixed Premium Auction Unit Grants and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) referred to as INNOVFUND Unit Grant. The application deadline is set for February 19, 2026, with the submission process having opened on December 4, 2025. The call follows a single-stage submission model.

The total budget for this call stands at 1.1 billion euros. It encompasses three topics: INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBO-GENERAL, INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBOLOWCARB-GENERAL, and INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBOLOWCARB-MAR-AVI. Notable sections within the call document cover admission conditions, eligibility criteria, financial and operational capacity requirements, exclusion criteria, evaluation and award processes, and timelines.

Specific admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout, while eligible countries and other conditions are specified in section six of the call document. Project submissions are assessed based on defined evaluation and award criteria, which include thresholds and scoring, detailed in sections eight and nine. The legal framework guiding this call comprises Decision C(2025)7674 and relevant regulations such as the INNOVFUND Regulation 2019/856 and the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

To apply, applicants must use the Electronic Submission Service found in the Funding & Tenders Portal, where they can follow detailed instructions and access the necessary application templates. Support is available through the InnovFund helpdesk for inquiries related to documentation and processes, and the IT Helpdesk for technical issues.

Overall, this call aims to promote the production and use of Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) and low-carbon hydrogen, specifically in the maritime and aviation sectors, thereby aiding the EU's climate objectives. Significant financial resources are offered through a competitive auction mechanism to support innovative projects in these fields. Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review all relevant documents and utilize available assistance to enhance their application process.

The Innovation Fund 2025 Auction Hydrogen call (INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2) is now open for submissions. The call is part of the Innovation Fund (INNOVFUND) program and offers INNOVFUND Fixed Premium Auction Unit Grants (INNOVFUND-FPAUC-UN). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the INNOVFUND Unit Grant [INNOVFUND-AG-UN]. The deadline for submission is 19 February 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The opening date was 04 December 2025. This is a single-stage submission model.

The submission session is available for three topics: INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBO-GENERAL, INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBOLOWCARB-GENERAL, and INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2-RFNBOLOWCARB-MAR-AVI.

The total budget for the call is EUR 1,100,000,000.

The call document includes the following sections: Conditions, Call document, Budget overview, Start submission, Topic Q&As, and Get support.

The conditions for the call are as follows:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout, described in Section 5 of the call document.
2. Eligible Countries, described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions, described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion, described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes, described in the sections 8 and 11 of the call document.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds, described in the sections 8 and 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants, described in section 10 of the call document.

The call document includes the following documents:

Call document
Application form templates for information only for submission, use the forms provided inside the Submission System (under "Part B templates")
Application form the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System (under "Part B templates")
Calculator ("Financial information file" with the bid)
Completion guarantee letter of intent
Feasibility study
Participant information
Timetable/Gantt chart
Extended Part C form (for statistical data collection) available in the Submission System (under "Part B templates")
Completion guarantee for information only at submission stage; it will be requested only for projects invited to grant preparation
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
INNOVFUND Unit MGA

The legal framework and additional documents include:

Legal framework:
Legal basis for this call for proposals: Decision C(2025)7674 and Annex
Decision on unit contributions for the Innovation Fund
INNOVFUND Legal Framework
INNOVFUND Regulation 2019/856
ETS Directive 2003/87
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Additional documents:
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

To access the Electronic Submission Service, applicants must click the submission button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to their proposal. After confirming the choice, applicants will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals, applicants can log in to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

Applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. For help related to this call, applicants can use the helpdesks and support services provided:

InnovFund helpdesk for questions specifically related to the call documentation, application and evaluation process.
IT Helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
Online Manual step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes.

The Innovation Fund 2025 Auction Hydrogen call is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting projects related to renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) and/or electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen production. There are three specific topics within the call: a general topic for RFNBO, a general topic for low-carbon hydrogen, and a topic specifically targeting the maritime and aviation sectors. The funding is provided through a fixed premium auction mechanism, and the call is open for submissions until February 19, 2026. Applicants should carefully review the call documents, including the conditions, legal framework, and application form templates, and utilize the available helpdesks for any questions or technical issues. The total budget for this call is substantial, offering significant financial support for innovative projects in the hydrogen and renewable fuels sectors.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of the Innovation Fund and the targeted sectors, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, and other relevant organizations involved in the targeted sectors. Further details would be available in section 6 of the call document.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically "INNOVFUND Fixed Premium Auction Unit Grants" and "INNOVFUND Unit Grant". The call is part of the Innovation Fund, which typically provides grants for innovative projects.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. This information would likely be detailed in the call document, specifically in the sections addressing eligibility conditions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. However, since it is an EU funding opportunity under the Innovation Fund, it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes EU member states and possibly other countries associated with EU programs. Section 6 of the call document should provide more details.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO), electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen production, maritime sector, and aviation sector. The call specifically mentions "Fixed Premium Auction for RFNBO and/or electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen production for the maritime and aviation sectors."

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The focus is on the EU framework and regulations.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is not explicitly stated. However, given the focus on innovation and the involvement of the Innovation Fund, the projects are likely to be in the development, demonstration, or commercialization stages. A feasibility study is listed as a required document, suggesting projects should be at least at the validation stage.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a total budget of EUR 1,100,000,000 (1.1 billion EUR) for the year 2025. The contribution per project is variable and determined through a fixed premium auction mechanism.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process. The call is accessible through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

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

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the European Union's Innovation Fund, specifically targeting projects related to Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) and electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen production, with a particular focus on the maritime and aviation sectors. The call, named "Innovation Fund 2025 Auction Hydrogen (INNOVFUND-2025-AUC-H2)", offers grants through a fixed premium auction mechanism. The total budget allocated for this call is EUR 1.1 billion.

The call is structured as a single-stage submission process, with the deadline for submissions being February 19, 2026. The submission session opened on December 4, 2025. Applicants are required to submit their proposals electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal, using specific application forms and templates provided in the system.

The legal basis for this call is Decision C(2025)7674 and Annex, along with other relevant EU regulations and directives, including the INNOVFUND Regulation 2019/856, ETS Directive 2003/87, and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

The application process involves several conditions related to admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria. The evaluation and award process includes considerations for submission, evaluation, award criteria, scoring, and timelines. Detailed information on these aspects can be found in the call document.

To apply, applicants need to access the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal, carefully following the instructions and using the provided templates. Support is available through the InnovFund helpdesk and the IT Helpdesk for technical issues.

In essence, this call aims to support innovative projects that contribute to the EU's climate goals by promoting the production and use of RFNBO and low-carbon hydrogen in the maritime and aviation sectors, offering substantial grant funding through a competitive auction process.