New thermal insulation concepts for bulk liquid hydrogen shipping

The HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-02-03 is a funding opportunity under Horizon Europe, specifically focusing on new thermal insulation concepts for bulk liquid hydrogen (LH2) shipping. It targets various eligible applicant types, including research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and industrial consortia, with a strong preference for industrial-led proposals. A consortium of at least three independent legal entities from diverse EU Member States or Associated Countries is required for application.

The funding type is a grant offered as lump sum contributions, which simplifies financial management as beneficiaries receive a fixed amount upon successful completion of predefined milestones. The maximum EU contribution for the project is set at €4 million.

The project aims to address technical challenges associated with safely storing and transporting liquid hydrogen at ultra-cryogenic temperatures, which is critical for enhancing the infrastructure necessary for international hydrogen trade. Successful proposals should develop insulation technologies that are cost-effective, robust, and scalable. The focus is particularly on marine transport and systems that can be compliant with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards.

Proposals should conduct various activities, including regulatory assessments, design, numerical simulations of tank systems, prototype production, and safety planning, while ensuring alignment with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. The expected outcomes include improved tank designs with better insulation performance, demonstrated techno-economic viability, and compliance with international standards.

The application process is a single-stage submission, with a call opening on February 10, 2026, and a deadline of April 15, 2026. While co-funding is encouraged, it is not a formal requirement. Ultimately, the project aims to meet key performance indicators related to LH2 shipping efficiency, significantly contributing to the EU's broader hydrogen economy objectives.

This is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU), focusing on "New thermal insulation concepts for bulk liquid hydrogen shipping." The call aims to develop innovative, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and safe insulation concepts for liquid hydrogen (LH2) transport tanks used in shipping. The goal is to enhance the robustness and scalability of LH2 storage systems, addressing the limitations of traditional vacuum-jacketed dewar tanks.

The expected outcomes of successful projects include:

Development of economically viable technology solutions to strengthen the European import and export market for LH2.
Contribution to safe, cost- and energy-efficient LH2 tanks scalable to 250,000 m³ per ship, compliant with IMO standards.
Fostering large-scale trade and green fuel markets for various sectors (shipping, mobility, aviation, industries).
Supporting the European industry in LH2 insulation technologies.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) from the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA that projects should aim to meet are:

KP13: LH2 ship tank capacity (350 t in 2024, 2800 t in 2030)
KP14: LH2 ship tank Capex (50 Euro/kg in 2024, <10 Euro/kg in 2030)
KP15: LH2 boil-off (0.5 %/d in 2024, <0.3 %/d in 2030)

The scope of the projects should include:

Assessment of regulatory requirements for bulk LH2 shipping.
Development of insulation system solutions, including pipes, feedthroughs, connections, and supporting structures.
2D Numerical analysis of tank heat ingress and internal heat and mass transfer, considering thermal cycling.
Numerical analysis of tank supports to minimize heat leaks while maintaining structural integrity.
Design and manufacture of a tank prototype (at least 30 m3) for testing under relevant environmental conditions.
Analysis of the scalability of the concept.
Demonstration of techno-economic viability.
Investigation of cost-efficient manufacturing processes.
Development of a System Oriented Digital Twin for insulation performance assessment.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for the tank concept.
Demonstration of safety performance.
Evaluation of the insulation system's impact on risk management.
Fire resistance testing and modeling.
Design of a tank with improved insulation.
Pre-normative standardisation of integrity assessment and test methods.

Proposals should demonstrate contributions to EU competitiveness and industrial leadership, including the origin of equipment and infrastructure. Synergies with the Zero Emission Waterborne Partnership are encouraged. A preliminary hydrogen safety plan is required. Activities should start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and reach TRL 5 by project completion.

The EU contribution is estimated at a maximum of EUR 4.00 million per project.

The call is a single-stage process, with a planned opening date of February 10, 2026, and a deadline of April 15, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The type of action is HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-RIA), and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

General conditions for admissibility include adherence to page limits and layouts as described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Eligible countries are specified in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Additional eligibility conditions include maximum contribution limits for certain topics and a membership requirement for Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research for specific large-scale demonstration and flagship projects.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum contribution. Specific provisions in the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) include lump sum funding, potential for full capitalised costs for equipment, infrastructure, or other assets, and an additional obligation regarding subcontracting within target countries (EU Member States and Associated Countries).

An additional information obligation regarding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) has been introduced for topics including standardisation activities.

Application form templates and evaluation form templates are available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, Clean Hydrogen JU Annual Work Programme 2026, Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, and Lump Sums Guidance.

The call aims to support research and innovation activities that will lead to the development of advanced thermal insulation concepts for LH2 shipping tanks. The goal is to create safer, more efficient, and economically viable solutions for transporting liquid hydrogen, contributing to the growth of the hydrogen economy and the EU's competitiveness in this sector. The call encourages collaboration among industry and research partners to address the challenges associated with LH2 storage and transportation, ultimately supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity targets an industrial lead consortium, suggesting that large enterprises, SMEs, research institutes, and universities are eligible, especially those with industrial capabilities. Public authorities might also be relevant as end-users.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-RIA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] mechanism.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity description explicitly states that the challenges need to be addressed ideally by an industrial lead consortium, indicating a consortium is strongly preferred, if not required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The target countries for subcontracting are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries, suggesting that applicants from these regions are geographically eligible. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the hydrogen sector, specifically focusing on liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage and transportation. It also touches upon the maritime sector due to its focus on ship transport, and the energy sector more broadly. Relevant technologies include cryogenic insulation, thermal management, numerical analysis, digital twin development, and safety systems.

Mentioned Countries: Japan is mentioned in the context of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project, but not as a target country for applicants. The target countries are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The activities are expected to start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project. This indicates a development and validation stage.

Funding Amount: The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum EUR 4.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.

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 involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 1, so the success rate is likely to be below 10% given the general competitiveness of Horizon Europe calls.

Co-funding Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on industrial leadership and the mention of leveraging co-funding as commitment from stakeholders suggests that co-funding is favorably considered, especially for actions performed at high TRL level.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU), seeks to fund research and innovation projects focused on developing new thermal insulation concepts for bulk liquid hydrogen (LH2) shipping. The goal is to create cost-effective, energy-efficient, and safe LH2 transport tanks that can enhance the European import and export market for hydrogen. The projects should address regulatory requirements, develop insulation systems, conduct numerical analyses, manufacture and test prototypes, and demonstrate the techno-economic viability of their concepts. An industrial-led consortium is strongly encouraged to apply, with activities expected to advance technologies from TRL 3 to TRL 5. The EU contribution is capped at EUR 4.00 million per project, disbursed as a lump sum. The call aims to contribute to the Clean Hydrogen JU's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) objectives and KPIs for large-scale shipping of bulk LH2.