Integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites (Processes4Planet partnership) (RIA)

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe framework, specifically focusing on the integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites through the Processes4Planet partnership. This call, identified as HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-33, aims to enhance the technical and economic feasibility of integrating renewable energy sources into industrial settings, ultimately reducing carbon dioxide emissions and promoting strategic industrial cooperation.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, small and medium enterprises, large enterprises, and other actors in the value chain, emphasizing a collaborative approach. The funding type is a non-repayable grant under the Research and Innovation Actions category, with a proposed budget range of 1 million to 5 million euros per project.

A consortium consisting of diverse partners from academia and industry is required for this initiative. Geographic eligibility primarily focuses on EU member states and associated countries, while there may be potential for participation from third countries under specific conditions. The target sectors are energy-intensive industries, aiming to facilitate the integration of renewable energy technologies like hydrogen, solar heat, and ammonia.

The project stage is primarily in the research and development phase, targeting technology readiness levels of 3 to 6. The funding amount for the call is set at 25 million euros, with an expectation to award around three grants. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a submission deadline of September 23, 2025.

Successful proposals should address various challenges, including the development of efficient technologies for integrated industrial site structures, logistic considerations, risk management, and systemic solutions that promote industrial symbiosis. Applicants are expected to demonstrate real-world applicability with clear assessments related to energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. Inclusion of a business case, exploitation strategy, and a skills development approach is also necessary.

General grant conditions cover admissibility, financial and operational capacity, evaluation, and operational setup, which are detailed in the related Horizon Europe documentation. The application form and additional guidance resources are available on the Submission System, aimed to assist potential applicants.

In summary, this grant supports the development of technologies and strategies that enhance the integration of renewable energy in industrial operations, striving for greater energy efficiency and support for the EU’s decarbonization objectives. The emphasis lies on cross-sector collaboration and innovation in energy-intensive industries, with a strong focus on the practical implementation of proposed solutions.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call focused on the integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites, specifically under the Processes4Planet partnership. This call, identified as HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-33, aims to foster strategic industrial cooperation to manage energy input fluctuations, enhance energy and cost efficiency, and support the stability and flexibility of the power grid. The call seeks to improve the technical and economic feasibility of integrating renewable energy sources in industrial settings, thereby reducing CO2 emissions.

The scope of the call emphasizes the utilization of various renewable energy carriers such as electricity, hydrogen, solar heat, and ammonia within process industries. It addresses the challenges posed by the temporal variations in renewable energy supply, advocating for integrated design and operation of complex systems within industrial sites. The call promotes industrial symbiosis and the integration of production and energy systems to maximize emission reduction and improve power system efficiency.

Key objectives for proposals include:

Developing efficient technologies and prototype designs for integrated industrial site structures, including energy storage solutions.
Addressing logistic aspects, risk assessment, and management at the plant level.
Creating systemic solutions that embrace industrial symbiosis and contribute to the evolution of Hubs4Circularity.
Considering the interaction with the energy supply side, including electric power grids, hydrogen pipelines, and district heating.
Demonstrating the integration of advanced digital technologies, such as distributed process control strategies, AI-based optimization, and model-based technologies, for improved plant operation and grid interaction.
Evaluating energy efficiency and CO2 footprint reduction through the optimal integration of renewable energy sources and demand-side flexibility.
Adapting workplace practices and site management to facilitate the widespread implementation of proposed solutions.

Proposals should include energy efficiency, techno-economic, and life-cycle assessment considerations. They should also consider representative real industrial sites, demonstrating solutions through open-loop computations validated by simulations. Active involvement of all actors in the value chain, from site management to renewable energy providers, is essential. Interoperability and secure data sharing, adhering to FAIR data principles, are also required.

A business case and exploitation strategy, aligned with the introduction to the Destination, should be included to highlight the proposal's contribution to boosting the industrial decarbonization technologies supply chain in Europe. Furthermore, a skills development strategy, involving social partners, is necessary to address the challenges of integrated systems, leveraging existing education and skills development initiatives.

The call specifies several general conditions related to admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, evaluation and award processes, and the legal and financial setup of grants, referencing relevant annexes and guides within the Horizon Europe framework. Specific conditions are detailed within the work program.

Application and evaluation forms, along with the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme, Programme Guide, Framework Programme, Specific Programme Decision, EU Financial Regulation, and guidelines on legal entity validation and grant agreements.

The budget overview lists various topics under the HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01 call, including DIGITAL, HUMAN, MATERIALS, and TWIN-TRANSITION, with their respective budgets, action types (RIA, CSA, IA, COFUND), opening and deadline dates (May 22, 2025, and September 23, 2025), and indicative number of grants. For example, the HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-33 topic, which is a HORIZON-RIA, has a budget of 25,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 3 grants.

The portal also provides resources for partner searches, submission assistance, topic-specific Q&As, and general support information, including links to the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, and IT Helpdesk.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to drive the integration of renewable energy sources within energy-intensive industries by funding research and innovation actions that develop efficient technologies, promote industrial symbiosis, and enhance the stability and flexibility of energy systems. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration across the value chain, skills development, and the application of digital technologies to achieve industrial decarbonization and a more sustainable European economy. The call is structured to support projects that can demonstrate real-world impact and contribute to the broader goals of the Processes4Planet partnership.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe and the types of actions (RIA, IA, CSA, COFUND), eligible applicants could include: research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, industrial sites management, plant operators, renewable energy providers, and other actors in the value chain. The call encourages the involvement of all actors in the value chain, suggesting a broad range of eligible entities.

Funding Type: The funding types include grants, specifically 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). These are budget-based action grants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it emphasizes the involvement of all actors in the value chain, from industrial sites management to plant operators and renewable energy providers. The call also mentions industrial symbiosis and strategic industrial cooperation, suggesting that multiple entities need to collaborate.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU and associated countries. 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." This suggests that while the focus is on EU and associated countries, there might be possibilities for entities from other countries to participate if they meet specific conditions.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is energy, specifically renewable energy integration within energy-intensive industries. It also touches on digital technologies, industrial processes, and skills development. The program targets industrial decarbonization technologies supply chain.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "EU and associated countries" and "non-EU/non-Associated Countries". No specific countries are named, but the focus is clearly on the European region, with some possibilities for third-country participation.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions) suggests projects in the research, development, and validation stages. HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) indicates projects in the demonstration, and potentially commercialization or scale-up stages. The call encourages experiments involving real industrial sites, suggesting a move towards demonstration.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary widely based on the specific topic and type of action. The budget overview provides a detailed breakdown:
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-DIGITAL-61: €30,000,000 (around €6,000,000 per grant, 5 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-DIGITAL-62: €3,000,000 (around €3,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-60: €1,500,000 (around €1,500,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-61: €1,000,000 (around €1,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-62: €2,000,000 (around €2,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-63: €2,000,000 (around €2,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-64: €5,000,000 (€500,000 to €1,000,000 per grant, 5 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-65: €3,000,000 (around €3,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-66: €1,500,000 (€1,000,000 to €1,500,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-31: €10,000,000 (around €5,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-44: €2,000,000 (around €2,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-45: €28,000,000 (around €28,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-52: €15,000,000 (€4,000,000 to €5,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-61: €24,000,000 (around €8,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-62: €30,000,000 (around €7,500,000 per grant, 4 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-63: €24,000,000 (around €8,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-64: €45,000,000 (€90,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-01: €35,000,000 (€5,000,000 to €7,000,000 per grant, 6 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-02: €35,000,000 (€4,000,000 to €6,000,000 per grant, 7 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-05: €42,000,000 (€5,000,000 to €7,000,000 per grant, 6 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-31: €25,000,000 (€8,000,000 to €10,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-32: €25,000,000 (€8,000,000 to €10,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-33: €25,000,000 (€6,000,000 to €8,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-34: €25,000,000 (€5,000,000 to €9,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-36: €24,000,000 (€6,000,000 to €8,000,000 per grant, 4 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-37: €28,000,000 (around €14,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-38: €1,000,000 (around €1,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-39: €2,000,000 (around €2,000,000 per grant, 1 grant)

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 research, innovation, coordination, and support actions.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline.

Success Rates: The success rates can be inferred from the budget overview, which provides the "Indicative number of grants" for each topic. For example, if a topic has a budget of €30,000,000 and expects to fund 5 grants, the success rate will depend on the number of proposals received, which is not specified in the document.

Co-funding Requirement: For most actions, co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement. However, HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-64 is a HORIZON Programme Cofund Action, which implies that co-funding from other sources is part of the funding mechanism.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call (INDUSTRY, HORIZON-CL4-2025-01) focuses on promoting the integrated use of renewable energy carriers within energy-intensive industrial sites. The call aims to enhance energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and foster industrial symbiosis through various research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, and co-funding initiatives. It encourages the development of efficient technologies, prototype designs, and systemic solutions that integrate renewable energy sources, digital technologies, and skills development strategies. The call is structured around several topics related to digital technologies, human factors, materials, and twin transitions, each with a specific budget and expected number of grants. The geographic focus is primarily on EU and associated countries, with potential opportunities for entities from non-EU countries. Applicants are expected to form consortia involving actors across the value chain, including industrial sites management, plant operators, and renewable energy providers. The call is a single-stage submission process with a deadline of September 23, 2025.