Flexible and mobile solutions for Onshore Power Supply (ZEWT Partnership)

The grant opportunity titled "Flexible and mobile solutions for Onshore Power Supply (ZEWT Partnership)" is part of the Horizon Europe funding program, specifically under Cluster 5 focusing on Climate, Energy, and Mobility. This initiative aims to develop innovative Onshore Power Supply (OPS) solutions for ports to enhance the flexibility and modularity of existing systems.

Eligible applicants for this grant include a consortium of organizations such as universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and public-private partnerships actively involved in energy or transport innovation. Participation from at least three independent legal entities across three different EU Member States or Associated Countries is mandatory, promoting cross-sector collaboration within the ZEWT Partnership. The funding is classified as a Horizon Lump Sum Grant, supporting the development of prototypes and facilitating market replication efforts.

Geographically, the grant is open to participants from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The focus lies in energy transition within the transport sector, addressing areas such as clean energy systems, smart grid integration, port electrification, and battery storage solutions.

The project stage is defined as an innovation action, specifically targeting the validation and demonstration phases where tested prototypes are expected to be ready for real-world implementation. While specific funding amounts are not disclosed, similar Horizon Europe grants typically range from €1 million to €5 million.

The application process involves a single-stage open call with a submission deadline of September 4, 2025. Funding can cover up to 70% of eligible costs for innovation activities, with projects being expected to secure at least 30% co-funding from their own resources or other funding sources.

Success rates for grants under Horizon Europe vary, generally ranging from 10% to 39%, with specific attention given to technological excellence and feasibility in the evaluation process. The proposal should emphasize creating scalable OPS solutions to decarbonize transport at shore and at anchorage while adhering to the EU's green transition objectives.

Overall, the call looks for innovative OPS solutions that will reduce emissions at ports, support the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport Partnership, and contribute to the broader EU environmental goals through its emphasis on sustainable energy practices within the maritime sector.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe funding opportunity focused on "Flexible and mobile solutions for Onshore Power Supply (ZEWT Partnership)" under topic HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-14. This call aims to develop innovative and scalable Onshore Power Supply (OPS) solutions for ports, addressing the gaps in flexibility and modularity of existing OPS systems. The goal is to support the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership and meet the Fit-for-55 OPS requirements in AFIR and FuelEU Maritime.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include:

Area A: Port authorities and ship operators have fully flexible and mobile solutions to ensure that onshore power supply (OPS) can be provided within and across different terminals and port areas maximising operational benefits for port authorities, terminal and ship operators, optimising deployment.

Area B: Port authorities have available solutions to provide OPS at anchorage areas to different vessel types and different port environments in different conditions (physical and operational) to optimise OPS deployment and investments.

In addition, project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

Ship and port operators benefit from cost-efficient innovative solutions for flexible and mobile OPS for ships at shore or OPS at anchorage areas, for Low and High Voltage installations beyond the deployment actions taking place to meet the requirements of FuelEU Maritime and AFIR set by 2030, towards the policy goals set by 2050.

Terminal and ship operators have available mature mobile and flexible OPS or OPS at anchorage solutions applicable to the different ship types and services and port environments, with a special consideration to safety explosive atmospheres and dangerous zones.

Ship and port operators have standards, protocols and/or solutions aiming to bridge the gaps identified during the project for the implementation of fast charging as well as mobile and flexible OPS or OPS at anchorage areas.

Ship operators, grid managers and energy suppliers have solutions to prevent electrical failures and for earthing monitoring, with a particular focus on OPS mobile and flexible solutions or OPS at anchorage areas.

The scope of the projects should address the following aspects:

Demonstrate innovative scalable OPS solutions as described in the expected outcomes, addressing either Area A or Area B.

Minimise the risk of system failure and ensuring continuous operation, resilient to adverse climate conditions.

Identify remaining gaps in standardisation for the solutions developed and define recommendations for standards, protocols and/or solutions at least for safe fast battery charging. Projects addressing Area B should also address these activities for load/unload cargo operations simultaneously.

Research into systems that can simultaneously provide fast battery charging and OPS.

Development of earthing protection solutions through monitoring of the grounding resistance to predict failure.

All solutions should align with the optimisation of onboard High Voltage transformers, automation of onboard connection systems, optimisation of onboard OPS switchboard operation, and onboard safety monitoring systems and blackout prevention/mitigation systems to synchronise process and the communication between ship and shore.

Adequate training and support for crew and port staff are crucial for the successful implementation and operation of the solutions developed training programs should encompass system operations, maintenance procedures, safety protocols, and emergency response protocols to ensure safe and efficient operations.

The call is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a single-stage submission process. The indicative budget for the HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-14 topic is 5,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that around 1 grant will be awarded. The opening date for submission is 06 May 2025, and the deadline is 04 September 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The type of Model Grant Agreement is HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligibility of countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial setup of the grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions for this topic are not applicable.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) details:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA).

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the Lump Sum MGA.

Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme

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

The Funding & Tenders Portal provides various support services, including partner search announcements, electronic submission service, topic Q&As, general FAQs, a Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), the Enterprise Europe Network, an IT Helpdesk, a European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesks, and information on the European Charter for Researchers.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to foster innovation in Onshore Power Supply solutions for ports to reduce emissions and promote sustainable waterborne transport. It encourages projects that develop flexible, mobile, and safe OPS technologies, addressing standardization gaps and integrating fast charging capabilities. The call is structured as a single-stage Innovation Action with a lump sum funding mechanism, requiring applicants to demonstrate the potential for significant impact and contribution to the ZEWT Partnership's goals.

The EU is offering funding to projects that can improve Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for ships in ports. Current OPS systems are not flexible enough to handle the variety of ships and terminals in modern ports. This funding aims to develop new OPS solutions that are mobile, flexible, and can be used in different port environments, including at anchorage. The goal is to reduce emissions from ships while they are in port by providing them with clean electricity from the shore instead of running their engines. Projects should also look at how to standardize fast battery charging for ships and ensure the safety of these systems, especially in hazardous environments. The EU wants these projects to help meet its goals for cleaner shipping and to support the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport Partnership.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include a mix of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The call is related to ports and ship operators, so these are also target applicants.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" designation. The actions are HORIZON Innovation Actions and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and complexity of the projects, it is highly probable that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, if not required, to bring together the necessary expertise and resources. The budget overview shows that for some topics, multiple grants are indicatively available.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned, but since it is a Horizon Europe call, it is implied that applicants from EU member states and associated countries are eligible. The text 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," suggesting that some third-country participation is possible.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors:
*  Transport (specifically waterborne transport)
*  Energy (Onshore Power Supply - OPS, battery charging)
*  Environment (Zero Emission Waterborne Transport)
*  Maritime
*  Ports and Shipping
*  Climate

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to EU member states, EU associated countries, and non-EU/non-associated countries (third countries) with specific provisions.

Project Stage: The project stage targets both research and innovation actions, as well as innovation actions, suggesting a focus on development, demonstration, and validation, potentially leading to commercialization or deployment. The call also includes coordination and support actions. The call specifies mature mobile and flexible OPS or OPS at anchorage solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1.6 million to €22.5 million. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, with some topics expected to fund one project and others expected to fund two.

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 a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically require some level of co-funding, though this is not stated here.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under Cluster 5 and the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) partnership, focuses on "Flexible and mobile solutions for Onshore Power Supply (OPS)." The call aims to develop and demonstrate innovative, scalable, and cost-efficient OPS solutions for ships at shore and at anchorage areas, addressing the gaps in flexibility and modularity of existing OPS infrastructure. The call is structured around two main areas: Area A, focusing on flexible and mobile OPS solutions within port areas, and Area B, focusing on OPS solutions at anchorage areas.

The call encourages proposals that address various aspects, including: demonstrating innovative OPS solutions, minimizing system failure risks, identifying standardization gaps, researching systems for simultaneous fast battery charging and OPS, developing earthing protection solutions, aligning solutions with onboard systems, and providing adequate training for crew and port staff.

Eligible applicants include port authorities, ship operators, research institutions, SMEs, and other relevant organizations from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with amounts ranging from €1.6 million to €22.5 million depending on the specific topic. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of September 4, 2025. The call implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT), and successful projects will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.