PEDvolution Open Call for Demonstrators: Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)

The PEDvolution Open Call for Demonstrators focuses on supporting Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) under the HORIZON-CL5-2023-D4-01-03 topic, aiming for interoperability in local renewable integration and excess heat utilization. The project seeks innovative solutions in energy transition and urban innovation. The total funding available is €150,000 with individual funding amounts not specified. The call opens on May 1, 2025, and applications are due by June 30, 2025, at 23:59 Brussels time.

Applicants must submit a complete application package electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Required documents include an application form, declaration of honor, budget template, and identification form to verify legal status. The evaluation process consists of eligibility screening and expert assessment based on weighted criteria, including the project's context, use of PEDvolution tools, specific solutions, and budget justification. A minimum score of 12/20 is required for funding consideration.

The call is designed for entities engaged in the energy sector that are prepared to implement demonstrable projects within PEDs. The application process is anticipated to take 60 calendar days post-submission. All applicants will be notified of the results within 6-8 weeks after the deadline. Further guidance and templates are available in a Dropbox link provided with the call details.

The PEDvolution Open Call for Demonstrators: Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) is a funding opportunity under the HORIZON-CL5-2023-D4-01-03 topic, which focuses on Interoperable solutions for positive energy districts (PEDs), including a better integration of local renewables and local excess heat sources. The full name of the EU funded project is Interoperable solutions to streamline PED evolution and cross-sectoral integration. The grant agreement number is 101138472.

The opening date for submissions is May 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is June 30, 2025, at 23:59 (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation is 60 calendar days. The total funding available is 150,000.00 €. The project acronym is PEDvolution.

All applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the official deadline. Applications submitted after the deadline or through other channels will not be considered.

Applicants are required to submit a complete application package, which includes:

Annex II – Application Form: detailing project objectives, selected PEDvolution tools, and expected impact. The main form must not exceed 12 pages.
Annex III – Declaration of Honour: signed by the legal representative, confirming compliance with eligibility rules and absence of conflicts of interest.
Annex IV – Budget Application Template: outlining the anticipated budget allocation and justification.
Identification Form: to verify the legal status of the applicant (available via the EC website).
(Optional, if relevant for the selected applicants) Double Taxation Avoidance Form, where applicable.

Each application must be submitted in PDF format, clearly named.

To assist applicants, all relevant materials, templates, and guides are available in a centralized folder accessible via a Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ye5t5ysfnc7ubq1bc1daj/AITBB2YDFB7bOhHvH5wuC4w?rlkey=4mkf3rov71hpujf51qiqo1hr3&st=1bxmqx2b&dl=0

The folder contains:

Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties: Full details on objectives, eligibility, timeline, and available funding.
Annex I – Guide for Applicants: Step-by-step guidance on how to apply, evaluation criteria, and FAQs.
Annex II – Application Form (Template): The form applicants must complete and submit.
Annex III – Declaration of Honour: To be signed by the legal representative.
Annex IV – Budget Application (Excel): To outline the proposed allocation of funding.
Annex V – Sub-Grant Agreement (Template): Contractual terms applicable to selected applicants.

The evaluation process follows a two-stage process:

1. Eligibility Screening

Each proposal will be checked for:

Timely submission before the deadline
Completeness of required documents
Compliance with eligibility criteria (e.g. entity type, country, and scope)
Alignment with the objectives of the PEDvolution project

Ineligible or incomplete applications will not proceed to evaluation.

2. Evaluation by External Experts

Eligible proposals will be evaluated by a jury of independent external experts with relevant expertise in Positive Energy Districts, energy transition, digital solutions, and urban innovation. These experts are not affiliated with PEDvolution consortium partners.

Each proposal will be scored according to the following weighted criteria:

Evaluation Criteria Weight
PED Context 20%
PEDvolution Solutions Tick-Box (adopted tools) 30%
Solution-Specific Questions 30%
Budget Allocation and Justification 20%

Each criterion is rated from 0 to 5:

0 – Fail: The proposal fails to address the criterion or cannot be assessed.
1 – Poor: The criterion is inadequately addressed or has serious weaknesses.
2 – Fair: The proposal broadly addresses the criterion but with significant weaknesses.
3 – Good: The proposal addresses the criterion with some minor weaknesses.
4 – Very Good: The proposal addresses the criterion well with only minor issues.
5 – Excellent: The proposal successfully addresses all relevant aspects of the criterion.

Only applications that score a minimum of 3/5 per criterion and reach an overall minimum of 12/20 will be eligible for funding.

3. Final Decision

Following evaluation, the scores and rankings will be reviewed by the PEDvolution Consortium General Assembly, which will make the final selection of beneficiaries based on the evaluators' recommendations and strategic alignment with the project.

All applicants will receive a notification on the outcome of their application within 6–8 weeks of the deadline. Unsuccessful applicants can request feedback and submit an appeal within 5 business days of receiving their evaluation results.

In summary, this open call seeks to fund projects that demonstrate innovative solutions within Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), aligning with the PEDvolution project's goals of streamlining PED evolution and cross-sectoral integration. The call is open to various entities that can contribute to the development and implementation of interoperable solutions, local renewables integration, and local excess heat source utilization within PEDs. The application process involves submitting a comprehensive package through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with proposals being evaluated based on their PED context, adoption of PEDvolution tools, solution-specific aspects, and budget justification. Successful applicants will receive funding to implement their demonstrator projects, contributing to the broader goals of energy transition and urban innovation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly define the eligible applicant types. However, the requirement for an "Identification Form" to verify the legal status of the applicant suggests that legal entities such as startups, SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, nonprofits, or public organizations are likely eligible. Individuals are unlikely to be eligible, given the need for legal status verification. Further details on eligible entities should be available in the "Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties" document within the provided Dropbox link.

Funding Type: The funding type is cascade funding, which is a mechanism where a larger project (PEDvolution in this case) distributes funding to smaller projects through open calls. This is essentially a grant.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. The language used seems to allow for single applicants, but this should be confirmed in the "Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties" document.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity details mention compliance with eligibility criteria, including country. However, the specific eligible countries are not listed in the provided text. This information should be available in the "Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties" document. Given that it is an EU funded project, it is highly likely that EU member states are eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets the energy sector, specifically focusing on Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), energy transition, digital solutions, and urban innovation. The topic HORIZON-CL5-2023-D4-01-03 explicitly mentions "Interoperable solutions for positive energy districts (PEDs), including a better integration of local renewables and local excess heat sources."

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the opportunity details. The text refers to compliance with eligibility criteria including country, but does not specify which countries are eligible.

Project Stage: The call is for demonstrators, which implies that the expected project stage is demonstration. The projects should be beyond the research and development phase and ready to be tested and validated in real-world settings.

Funding Amount: The total funding available for this call is €150,000. The funding amount available to individual projects is not specified, but it will be a portion of this total amount.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as explicitly stated in the document title "PEDvolution Open Call for Demonstrators."

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a sub-grant to support their demonstration projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves two main stages: eligibility screening and evaluation by external experts. After these two stages, a final decision is made by the PEDvolution Consortium General Assembly. Therefore, there are effectively three stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. This information should be available in the "Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties" document.

Summary:

This is an open call for demonstrators within the PEDvolution project, which aims to support the development and implementation of interoperable solutions for Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The call is focused on projects that can demonstrate innovative approaches to energy transition, digital solutions, and urban innovation within the context of PEDs. The total funding available is €150,000, which will be distributed to selected projects. The application process involves submitting a complete application package electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by June 30, 2025. The evaluation process consists of eligibility screening, evaluation by external experts based on weighted criteria (PED Context, PEDvolution Solutions Tick-Box, Solution-Specific Questions, and Budget Allocation and Justification), and a final decision by the PEDvolution Consortium General Assembly. Applicants will be notified of the outcome within 6–8 weeks of the deadline. The call is relevant for organizations working in the energy sector, particularly those focused on developing and demonstrating solutions for positive energy districts. Applicants should carefully review all the documents provided in the Dropbox link, including the "Call Conditions for Financial Support to Third Parties," to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and understand the specific requirements of the call. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2025, at 23:59 CET.