Innovative solutions for energy conversion and safety of low and zero-carbon fuels in waterborne transport (ZEWT Partnership)

The grant opportunity titled HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-10 is part of the Horizon Europe program and emphasizes the advancement of low- and zero-carbon fuel technologies for waterborne transport under the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership. This initiative aims to foster innovative solutions that enhance energy conversion and safety in the maritime sector. Open to a variety of entities including startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, and research institutes across the EU and EEA, the call encourages cross-sector collaboration.

The funding provided is structured as a grant, notably through the HORIZON Innovation Actions framework, with a proposed budget of up to €22.5 million in the year 2025. The application process is single-stage, opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 4, 2025. While the exact amount published for individual projects isn't detailed, typical project funding is expected to range between €1 million and €5 million.

Project proposals must address either Area A, demonstrating fuel cell solutions with at least 5 MW power output, or Area B, focusing on internal combustion engine solutions with at least 10 MW output. Both areas require that a substantial proportion of the energy utilized comes from low and zero-carbon fuels. Furthermore, the call emphasizes full-scale demonstrators, replication studies, technological scalability, and the integration of energy technologies with targets for improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Successful proposals are anticipated to deliver near-to-market solutions, contribute to standardization and technical compatibility, and develop comprehensive training materials for the workforce dealing with such technologies. The overall goal is to achieve a sustainable maritime future that aligns with EU climate objectives, particularly reducing reliance on fossil fuels, improving energy efficiency, and addressing environmental and safety concerns related to the adoption of new fuel technologies.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call is focused on facilitating the transition to low and zero-carbon fuels in maritime transport, calling for innovative projects that demonstrate the viability of such solutions while promoting collaboration across the industry to meet stringent environmental targets.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-10, focusing on innovative solutions for energy conversion and safety of low and zero-carbon fuels in waterborne transport under the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership. It is a Horizon Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of 22,500,000 EUR for the year 2025. The call adopts a single-stage submission process, opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 4, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The indicative number of grants is 2.

The expected outcomes of this call are: near-to-market solutions for safe integration and use of low and zero-carbon fuel power conversion systems in vessels above 5,000 Gross Tonnage (GT) with at least 55% energy efficiency in shaft propulsion; a knowledge repository for standardisation and technical compatibility of low and zero-carbon fuels; a knowledge repository for identifying hazardous scenarios and developing safe response protocols for accidental releases of these fuels in ports; increased competitive advantage for the EU waterborne industry through innovative software; and certified training for the workforce handling these fuels.

The scope of this call is to address the ambitious goals set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation to reduce fossil fuel use in waterborne transport. It aims to integrate and develop fuel cells (FC) and internal combustion engines (ICEs) solutions for waterborne transport using low and zero-carbon fuels.

Proposals should address one of two areas: Area A, demonstrating FC solutions with at least 5 MW combined power output using low and zero-carbon fuels, or Area B, demonstrating ICEs solutions with at least 10 MW combined power output with at least 85% energy supply from low and zero-carbon fuels. The selected projects should be complementary.

Proposals must address several aspects, including: a full-scale demonstrator of a vessel above 5,000 GT; demonstrated solutions identifying their impact on air pollution with specific reduction targets for NOx, sulphur emissions, and PM; fuel flexibility and cost impacts of energy efficiency; innovative storage and handling solutions; solutions to prevent and mitigate slippage and fugitive emissions; optimised integration of energy technologies with at least 55% overall energy efficiency; identification of standardisation gaps and development of a roadmap; development of parameters ensuring technical compatibility between fuel and energy conversion systems; validated risk and safety assessments; a plan for exploitation and dissemination of results; development of training material for seafarers and port operators; replication studies on the scalability of proposed solutions; and development of relevant on-board after-treatment of specific pollutants.

Proposals must justify how they contribute to EU added value and strategic autonomy, including the competitiveness of the EU waterborne industry. The call encourages prioritising shipyards, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers located in the EU and EEA. The call also invites proposals to utilise big data and data science technologies. Projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT).

The general conditions include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, other eligible conditions including restrictions for the protection of European communication networks, and financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria. The evaluation and award process will ensure a balanced portfolio, and the submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Ineligible costs include equipment costs linked to Carbon Capture Storage and Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilisation.

Applicants should use the standard application form available in the Submission System and adapt the standard evaluation form. Guidance is available in the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, and HE Unit MGA. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and other related documents.

This funding opportunity aims to foster the development and adoption of low and zero-carbon fuel technologies in the waterborne transport sector, aligning with EU's climate goals and enhancing the competitiveness of its maritime industry. It seeks to support projects that can demonstrate innovative solutions, address safety and environmental concerns, and contribute to the standardisation and training needed for a sustainable maritime future. The call encourages collaboration among stakeholders, including shipyards, equipment manufacturers, port authorities, and research institutions, to achieve these ambitious objectives.

The call is about supporting innovation in the waterborne transport sector to meet ambitious environmental targets. It seeks projects that can demonstrate and scale up the use of low and zero-carbon fuels in ships, focusing on both fuel cell and internal combustion engine technologies. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, improve energy efficiency, and ensure the safety and compatibility of new fuels and technologies. Successful projects will not only develop technical solutions but also address the broader ecosystem, including standardisation, training, and market uptake, to drive a sustainable transformation of the maritime industry.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the call is open to entities capable of conducting research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions. This typically includes, but is not limited to, universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations relevant to the waterborne transport sector. The call encourages the prioritization of shipyards, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers located in the EU and EEA.

Funding Type: The primary funding type is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe program. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the nature of the projects, particularly the need for full-scale demonstrators and replication studies, suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is highly advantageous, if not required. Partner search announcements are available, indicating that applicants are expected to collaborate.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility focuses on entities within the EU and EEA. However, the general conditions mention 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, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector is the waterborne transport industry, with a focus on decarbonization, alternative fuel technologies, and reducing harmful emissions from ships. This includes energy, climate, and mobility sectors, specifically targeting zero-emission waterborne transport.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and EEA (European Economic Area). It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific funding provisions.

Project Stage: The project stage is primarily demonstration and validation, with a focus on near-to-market solutions. The call emphasizes full-scale demonstrators, replication studies, and scaling up technological maturity on-board vessels. Therefore, the expected maturity is at the validation and demonstration stages, potentially leading to commercialization.

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, typically between 1 and 2.

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 grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic suggests that the competition is likely to be high.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under Cluster 5 and the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership, aims to foster innovative solutions for decarbonizing the waterborne transport sector. The call focuses on integrating and developing fuel cells (FC) and internal combustion engines (ICEs) that use low and zero-carbon fuels, with the goal of scaling up their technological maturity for vessels.

The call is structured around two main areas: Area A, focusing on FC solutions with a combined power output of at least 5 MW, and Area B, focusing on ICEs solutions with a combined power output of at least 10 MW, using at least 85% low and zero-carbon fuels. Projects should demonstrate a full-scale vessel above 5,000 GT, showing the potential of integrated systems for 100% energy load provision under normal operations, and address air pollution reduction, fuel flexibility, innovative storage solutions, and optimized integration of energy technologies.

The expected outcomes include near-to-market solutions, knowledge repositories for standardization, risk and safety assessments, optimized integration of energy technologies, and training materials for seafarers and port operators. The call encourages the participation of shipyards, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers located in the EU and EEA and promotes the use of big data and data science technologies.

The funding is provided through Horizon Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and Horizon Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with varying budgets depending on the specific topic, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The call is open to a wide range of entities, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large enterprises, primarily from the EU and EEA, with potential participation from non-EU/non-Associated Countries under specific provisions.