Novel approaches to geothermal resources development

The grant opportunity titled "Novel approaches to geothermal resources development" is part of Horizon Europe's Climate, Energy, and Mobility cluster, specifically designated as HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03. This call aims to support innovative projects related to geothermal energy development, addressing both shallow and deep geothermal resources.

Eligible applicants for this grant include universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, public-private partnerships, and non-governmental organizations engaged in energy innovation. A consortium is typically required for submissions, ensuring a diverse partnership involving various stakeholders.

The funding type is a grant under the HORIZON Innovation Action category, aimed at promoting technological advancements. The expected budget for this grant is estimated to total around €10 million, with potential funding awarded to projects ranging from €1 million to €5 million each.

Geographic eligibility for applicants includes EU member states, EEA countries, candidate countries, and widening countries, allowing a broad array of participants. The focus sector is specifically geothermal energy, which encompasses a variety of areas including subsurface engineering, well design, and innovative monitoring systems.

The application process consists of a single-stage submission, with the deadline set for September 2, 2025. Proposals should demonstrate clear pathways for market deployment and scalability, showing viable methods for de-risking geothermal developments and increasing sustainability and efficiency.

Funding support is monetary, and the competitive nature of the grant suggests success rates for applications may fall between 10% to 39%. Co-funding is expected, typically around 30% for non-profits and 70% for industry partners.

Proposals are encouraged to include innovative practices and meet various criteria, such as addressing environmental impacts and leveraging social sciences to enhance societal engagement. Evaluation of submissions will be based on established criteria defined in the program's guidelines, with attention given to proposals demonstrating technological leadership in the geothermal sector.

In summary, this grant emphasizes innovation in geothermal energy technology, focusing on practical demonstrations and societal impacts, while supporting a wide range of collaborative projects designed to advance the field significantly.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides information on the Horizon Europe program, specifically focusing on Cluster 5, Call 02-2025 (WP 2025). This call aims to foster "Novel approaches to geothermal resources development" through various funding instruments, including Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND). The submission session opened on May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 2, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:
De-risking and cost reduction of geothermal resource development for developers and energy providers.
Sustainable generation of electricity, direct heat, and/or heating and cooling from geothermal resources in diverse geological settings, benefiting citizens.
Increased technology leadership, competitiveness, and export potential for European industry in the geothermal energy supply chain.
Environmentally sound technological innovation aligned with societal values, norms, and behavioral aspects across the geothermal value chain, enhancing energy justice and citizenship.

The scope of the call encompasses innovative approaches to resource development in shallow and deep geothermal areas. Shallow geothermal refers to depths of 0-500 meters with temperatures below 150ºC, while deep geothermal involves depths beyond 500 meters with temperatures above 150ºC. Proposals must specify whether they address shallow, deep, or both types of geothermal resources.

Key areas of focus include:
Subsurface engineering
Well design, drilling, and completion
Reservoir characterization and development planning

Technological solutions to be explored in proposals may include:
Robot and AI-physics-based simulation solutions for geothermal resource development.
Novel cost-efficient drilling methods and equipment.
Advanced drilling fluids.
New materials for casing, cementing, and completion.
Working fluids.
Logging while drilling.
Wireline technologies and geosteering high temperature electronics.
Well architecture and stimulation.
Closed loop technology.
Enhanced production pumps.
Innovative monitoring systems during geothermal resources exploitation, including integration in digital twins.

Projects are expected to reduce development time, ensure operational safety, adapt to specific geothermal environments (including offshore), constrain geological uncertainties, and reduce field development and seismic risks. Standardization of drilling equipment, enhanced well production, improved environmental performance, component resistance to corrosion, scaling, high temperature, wear, and mechanical failures, and increased energy extraction are also encouraged.

A clear go/no-go milestone before the demonstration phase is required, with delivery of detailed engineering plans, a techno-economic assessment, and all necessary permits for the demonstrator. Proposals should present a convincing pathway and timeline for obtaining permits.

Environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures are essential. Projects should adhere to FAIR data principles, adopt data quality standards, and follow GDPR-compliant data sharing practices developed by European research infrastructures.

Proposals should also develop understandings of how geothermal resource utilization aligns with cultural values and societal interests, enhancing responsiveness to diverse societal concerns through inclusive engagement. Effective contribution of SSH disciplines and involvement of SSH experts is required to enhance the societal impact of research activities.

General conditions for participation include adherence to proposal page limits and layouts as described in Annex A, Annex E, and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are listed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Restrictions may apply for the protection of European communication networks. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award processes will consider award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D. To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded to highly ranked proposals in both shallow and deep geothermal areas, provided they meet all thresholds and budget availability. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F and the Online Manual, with an indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement also in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects are covered in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application form templates are available in the Submission System, with standard evaluation forms used for assessment. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide and Model Grant Agreements (MGA). Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 sections and annexes, EU financial regulations, decisions on lump sum contributions, rules for legal entity validation, and annotated grant agreements.

The budget overview lists various topics under the call, including:
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-03: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 20,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-06: Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 3,000,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-08: Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 10,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-10: Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of EUR 69,000,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-11: Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 7,500,000, aiming for approximately 15 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-12: Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 500,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 20,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-04: Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 12,000,000, aiming for approximately 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-06: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 28,000,000, aiming for approximately 4 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-09: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 18,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-11: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 18,000,000, aiming for approximately 3 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-15: Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 4,000,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-16: Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 1,000,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-17: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 20,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-21: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 14,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-25: Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 10,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-26: Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 5,000,000, aiming for 1 grant.
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-27: Innovation Actions with a budget of EUR 14,000,000, aiming for approximately 2 grants.

The portal also facilitates partner searches and provides access to electronic submission services, topic Q&As, and general support resources.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on advancing geothermal energy technologies through innovative research and demonstration projects. It seeks to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability of geothermal energy, while also addressing environmental and societal considerations. The call offers various funding instruments to support a wide range of activities, from research and innovation to coordination and support actions, with a total budget allocation designed to foster a balanced portfolio of projects across different geothermal resource types and technological areas.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls and the types of actions (Innovation Actions, Coordination and Support Actions, Research and Innovation Actions, and Programme Cofund Actions), eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation, energy providers, and developers. The inclusion of SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) disciplines suggests that SSH experts, institutions, and organizations are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding types include grants for Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND) under the Horizon Europe Programme. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the encouragement of partner searches and the multi-faceted nature of the projects suggest that consortia are likely preferred, if not required, especially for Innovation Actions and Research and Innovation Actions. Coordination and Support Actions may be more amenable to single applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is for EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. The mention of non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific funding provisions suggests that some third-country participation is possible.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is energy, specifically geothermal energy. This includes both shallow and deep geothermal resources. Sub-sectors include subsurface engineering, well design, drilling and completion, reservoir characterisation and development planning, robotics, AI, simulation, advanced materials, and innovative monitoring systems. Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) are also a target sector, to enhance societal impact.

Mentioned Countries: The text mentions EU member states, non-EU countries, and associated countries in general terms, but no specific countries are named.

Project Stage: The project stages range from research and innovation (RIA) to demonstration (IA) and coordination/support (CSA/COFUND). The emphasis on demonstration and the requirement for a "go/no-go" milestone before the demonstration phase suggest that projects should be at least at the development stage, moving towards validation and demonstration.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary significantly depending on the type of action:
HORIZON-IA: Typically €14 million to €28 million, but can be €18 million or €20 million.
HORIZON-CSA: Typically €500k to €7.5 million, but can be €1 million, €3 million, or €4 million.
HORIZON-RIA: Typically €5 million to €12 million, but can be €10 million.
HORIZON-COFUND: €69 million.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage open call, as indicated by "single-stage" and "Open For Submission."

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the "Indicative number of grants" provides some insight. For example, a €20 million HORIZON-IA call might fund 2 projects, while a €7.5 million HORIZON-CSA call might fund 15 projects. This suggests varying levels of competitiveness depending on the specific call.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is explicitly mentioned only for HORIZON-COFUND actions, where it is inherent in the nature of co-funded programs. For other action types, the need for co-funding is not explicitly stated, but it is common in Horizon Europe for beneficiaries to contribute some level of resources to the project.

Summary:
This Horizon Europe Cluster 5 call focuses on "Novel approaches to geothermal resources development." It seeks to fund projects that demonstrate innovative solutions for both shallow and deep geothermal energy, aiming to de-risk geothermal development, reduce costs, and increase the sustainability and efficiency of geothermal energy production. The call encompasses various action types, including Innovation Actions (IA) for demonstration, Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) for technology development, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) for networking and coordination. Funding ranges from €500k to €69 million depending on the action type. The call is open to a wide range of applicants from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries, with a focus on consortia that bring together expertise in geothermal technology, subsurface engineering, AI, robotics, and social sciences. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of September 2, 2025. The call aims to improve the competitiveness of the European geothermal industry, enhance energy security, and promote environmentally sound and socially responsible geothermal energy development.