Fuel-flexible gas turbine combustion technology for clean and efficient ammonia firing

This summary addresses the EU grant opportunity HORIZON-JU, which focuses on advancing fuel-flexible gas turbine combustion technology for clean and efficient ammonia firing. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program and specifically aims at Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) within the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Eligible applicants for this grant include research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting advanced research. Each applicant must form a consortium consisting of at least three independent entities from different countries, including a minimum of one entity from an EU Member State and two others from different Member States or Associated Countries. International collaboration, especially with Japan’s NEDO, is encouraged. The funding takes the form of lump sum grants, with a maximum contribution of €5 million for this specific topic. The total budget allocated for the call is €105 million. Proposals are due by April 15, 2026, with submissions starting on February 10, 2026. The projects are expected to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, involving technologies validated in realistic environments. The primary focus of the funded projects is on developing new combustion systems that effectively burn ammonia and ammonia-hydrogen blends while overcoming challenges associated with flame stability and emissions. This includes extensive research into combustion chemistry, novel combustor designs, advanced modeling tools, and rigorous safety and feasibility assessments. Projects should aim to achieve specific performance targets that include limits on NOx emissions and efficiency reductions when operating with ammonia-based fuels. The goal is to facilitate the adoption of ammonia as a clean energy vector and support Europe's transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050, aligning with the objectives of the European Green Deal. Successful proposals will contribute to a long-term strategic vision for clean energy by enhancing the knowledge and technology needed for ammonia combustion in power generation, thereby positioning the EU as a global leader in sustainable energy technologies. The call emphasizes the importance of leveraging co-funding and stakeholder partnerships to ensure robust project implementation.

This EU grant opportunity, HORIZON-JU, focuses on developing fuel-flexible gas turbine combustion technology for clean and efficient ammonia firing. It falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program and the HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026 call, specifically targeting HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-RIA). The grant type is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The planned opening date is February 10, 2026, and the deadline for submission is April 15, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated for this topic is €105,000,000, and it will be a single-stage submission process.

The expected outcomes of this project include:

A fundamental understanding and detailed characterization of the combustion physics of NH3-based fuels at gas turbine-relevant operating conditions, including high reactants temperature and pressure, and the potential for blending with backup fuels.

A reliable and fuel-flexible combustion system verified for clean and efficient operation with NH3-based fuels or hydrogen at gas turbine-relevant conditions.

Breakthrough multi-fuel combustion system technology to facilitate a full-scale gas turbine demonstrator by 2035, enhancing European leadership in decarbonization technologies.

A pathway for utilizing ammonia as a carbon-free energy vector in power generation, supported by technological feasibility, safety, risk assessment, and an environmental, social, and economic benefit/risk balance.

The project aims to contribute to the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU) Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) by developing a new gas turbine combustion system with increased fuel flexibility for clean and efficient operation with pure ammonia or ammonia blended with hydrogen.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that the proposal should address include:

KPI 1:Dual-fuel operation & firing capability across the complete range from 100% NH3-based fuels to 100% backup fuels.

KPI 2:NOx emissions for NH3-based fuels: <300 mg/MJ (with use of SCR or operation with backup fuel).

KPI 3:Maximum efficiency reduction in operation with NH3-based fuels: <2% points (with respect to NG operation).

KPI 4:N2O, NH3 & HCN emissions for NH3-based fuels: <10 ppm (@15% O2).

The scope of the project involves addressing the limitations of standard gas turbine combustion technologies when burning ammonia or ammonia-hydrogen blends. It calls for a paradigm shift to develop novel fuel-flexible combustion technologies for clean and efficient ammonia operation, as well as backup fuel solutions. The project should investigate, understand, and solve challenges related to:

Poor flame stability due to low ammonia reactivity.

Significant NOx and N2O emissions due to oxidation of fuel-bound nitrogen.

Lethal levels of toxic compounds in the exhaust gas, such as unburnt NH3 (ammonia slip) and HCN.

The proposed project should address the following areas of research and innovation:

Improved chemical reactions kinetics for the oxidation of NH3-based fuels.

Fundamental combustion properties of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar).

Static flame stabilization of premixed and non-premixed flames of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar).

Dynamic flame stabilization of premixed and non-premixed flames of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar).

Design of novel injection schemes and staging strategies for clean and efficient combustion of NH3-based fuels.

Demonstration of combustion concepts and validation of combustion models in dedicated atmospheric and high-pressure combustion tests with full-scale engine combustor hardware (TRL 5).

Advanced combustion models and combustor concepts enabling clean and efficient gas turbine operation with NH3-based fuels.

Technological feasibility, safety, and risk assessment for the utilization of NH3-based fuels in power generation.

The project should enhance the maturity level of combustion of NH3-based fuels for power generating systems and make non-proprietary fundamental experimental and numerical data available after project completion.

Proposals should build upon and complement projects funded by the Clean Hydrogen JU such as Flex4H2, HyPowerGT, InsigH2t, ACHIEVE, and ACCEPT. International cooperation is encouraged, particularly with Japan’s NEDO.

Activities are expected to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 by the end of the project. The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum €5.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.

Admissibility conditions include proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form. The page limit for Innovation Actions is 70 pages.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Other eligibility conditions include a maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested, which is €5.00 million for this topic.

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

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply, including the use of lump sums for all topics in the Call 2026. Subcontracting work may only be performed in target countries, which are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries. An additional information obligation has been introduced for topics including standardisation activities: ‘Beneficiaries must, up to 4 years after the end of the action, inform the granting authority if the results could reasonably be expected to contribute to European or international standards’.

Application form templates and evaluation form templates are available in the Submission System.

This funding opportunity aims to revolutionize gas turbine technology by enabling the use of ammonia as a clean and efficient fuel. It seeks to overcome the technical hurdles associated with ammonia combustion, such as flame stability and emissions control, through innovative research and development. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the widespread adoption of ammonia as a carbon-free energy carrier, contributing to the European Green Deal and a low-carbon economy. The call encourages collaboration with international partners and builds upon existing projects to accelerate the development and deployment of this technology. Successful projects will not only advance the state-of-the-art in gas turbine combustion but also provide valuable data and insights for future combustor designs.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. This likely encompasses universities, research institutes, large enterprises, SMEs, and other relevant organizations with expertise in the targeted areas. Given the emphasis on industrial stakeholders, participation from industry is highly encouraged. Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research may be an additional eligibility criterion for some topics.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-RIA) or a HORIZON JU Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) or a HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-JU-CSA). The grants will be disbursed as lump sums.

Consortium Requirement:A consortium is required. For some topics, one partner in the consortium must be a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The target countries for subcontracting are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible for funding if they have made specific provisions, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. International cooperation with entities from countries that are neither EU Member States nor Horizon Europe Associated countries is encouraged, particularly with Japan's NEDO.

Target Sector:The target sector is energy, specifically focusing on clean hydrogen technologies, gas turbines, and ammonia combustion. It also touches on climate and environment due to the focus on reducing emissions and supporting the European Green Deal.

Mentioned Countries:European Union Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, Japan.

Project Stage:The project stage targets activities expected to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 by the end of the project. This suggests a development and validation stage, moving towards demonstration.

Funding Amount:The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum €5.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately for the HORIZON-JU topic. Other topics in the call have different maximum contribution amounts.

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 a lump sum grant.

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

Success Rates:Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants is 1 for this specific topic.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is expected, particularly for actions performed at high TRL levels, including demonstration in real operational environments. Actions are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders.

Summary:This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting research and innovation actions (RIA), innovation actions (IA) and coordination and support actions (CSA) related to fuel-flexible gas turbine combustion technology for clean and efficient ammonia firing. The goal is to develop novel combustion systems that can efficiently and cleanly burn ammonia-based fuels in gas turbines, reducing emissions and supporting the European Green Deal's objectives. The call encourages international cooperation, particularly with Japan, and requires consortia to include members from EU Member States and Associated Countries. Funding is provided as a lump sum, with a maximum EU contribution of €5.00 million for this specific topic. Projects should aim to reach TRL 5 by completion, demonstrating the technological feasibility and safety of using ammonia in power generation. The call emphasizes the importance of addressing challenges related to flame stability, emissions control, and the overall environmental and economic impact of ammonia-based fuel systems.