Targeting key value chain components for increasing the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in Europe
Overview
The Horizon Europe call titled "Targeting key value chain components for increasing the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in Europe," identified as HORIZON-CL5, aims to enhance the competitiveness and security of Europe’s clean energy system. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program within Cluster 5, focused on Climate, Energy, and Mobility. The call is set to open for submissions on December 18, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2026. The total funding allocated for this call is €9,000,000, to be distributed among three expected grants, each amounting to €3,000,000. The funding will be issued as lump sum grants, allowing for greater flexibility in budget management and financial reporting. Eligible applicants include various entities such as research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The calls encourage collaboration and consortia, although single organizations may also apply. The scope of funded projects includes the development of solutions addressing key challenges in the renewable energy technology value chains, such as material efficiency, circular economy principles, sustainable feedstock access, and the integration of digital tools and AI. Proposals should focus on enhancing European autonomy and industrial leadership by overcoming technology and manufacturing dependencies. Projects supported will cover technology development, innovation demonstration, and commercialization readiness, targeting near-to-market solutions rather than basic research. While specific success rates for proposals are not detailed, historical data suggests success rates in Horizon Europe calls tend to range from 10% to 20%. A notable absence of mandatory co-funding is a highlight, although leveraging additional financial support may improve evaluation outcomes. Overall, this call represents a significant opportunity for entities capable of contributing to the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in the European market, aligning with broader goals for sustainability and innovation in the clean energy sector. The single-stage application process simplifies the submission and evaluation, facilitating quicker determination of project funding.
Highlights
This is a Horizon Europe call focusing on "Targeting key value chain components for increasing the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in Europe". The call falls under the BATTERIES and ENERGY section (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03) of the Horizon Europe program. It aims to enhance the competitiveness and security of Europe's clean energy system by addressing critical issues in the renewable energy technology value chains. The call is structured around HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), utilizing a single-stage submission process and a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement.
The planned opening date for submissions is December 18, 2025, with a deadline of March 31, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.
The expected outcomes of projects funded under this call are to strengthen European autonomy, research capacity, and industrial leadership in renewable energy solutions, and to develop technical and value chain solutions that improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies.
The scope of the call includes developing solutions that address critical aspects affecting the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and their value chains, from energy source to sink. This includes targeting bottlenecks, game-changer technologies, and primary costs. Proposals should focus on solutions that are critical for competitiveness in the European context in the long run.
Specific issues that can be addressed include:
Material efficiency and circularity, including repair possibilities.
Lifetime extension and end-of-life management.
Access to fully sustainable low-cost feedstock.
Digital and AI tools during capacity build-up and operation.
Technologies for sustainable and efficient horizontal and vertical value chain optimisation.
Optimisation of logistics and production pathways.
Expert knowledge and training.
Assessment of the benefit/cost of domestic ownership for given value chain solutions.
The general conditions for participation include:
Admissibility Conditions:Proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible Countries:As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Other Eligible Conditions:Projects using satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion:As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award:Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement:Described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants:The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action's end, as set out in Annex 5. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.
Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation forms will be used with necessary adaptations.
Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
The budget overview for the call includes several topics:
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D2-02 - HORIZON-RIA:€14,200,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions around €4,700,000.
HORIZON-CL5 - HORIZON-RIA:€9,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions around €3,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12 - HORIZON-RIA:€15,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions around €5,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-13 - HORIZON-IA:€31,500,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions around €10,500,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-18 - HORIZON-IA:€20,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, contributions around €10,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-19 - HORIZON-IA:€24,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions between €4,000,000 and €12,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-20 - HORIZON-IA:€14,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, contributions around €7,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-21 - HORIZON-RIA:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, contributions around €4,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-22 - HORIZON-IA:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, contributions around €6,000,000.
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-29 - HORIZON-IA:€25,000,000, indicative number of grants: 5, contributions around €5,000,000.
Partner search announcements are available for those looking to collaborate on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.
The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.
For support, applicants are encouraged to read all provisions carefully, consult the Online Manual and Horizon Europe Programme Guide, check the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, and use the Research Enquiry Service. National Contact Points (NCPs) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) are also available for guidance and assistance. Additional support is available from the IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.
In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bolster the competitiveness and security of Europe's clean energy sector by funding research and innovation that addresses critical issues within the renewable energy technology value chains. It encourages projects that strengthen European autonomy, develop technical solutions, and optimize various aspects of renewable energy production and distribution. The call provides a lump sum grant and offers extensive support resources for applicants.
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Breakdown
Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that it is a Horizon Europe call, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries are also eligible.
Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The actions are HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).
Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, given the scope and nature of Horizon Europe projects, it is highly likely that a consortium of multiple applicants is expected, although single applicants might be possible in some cases.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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.
Target Sector:The program targets the clean energy sector, specifically focusing on renewable energy technologies and their value chains. This includes areas such as material efficiency, circularity, digital and AI tools, sustainable feedstock, value chain optimization, logistics, and expert training.
Mentioned Countries:The text mentions non-EU and non-Associated Countries. The primary geographic focus is on the European context.
Project Stage:The program supports both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), indicating that it covers a range of project stages from research and development to demonstration and validation.
Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D2-02:€14,200,000 (around €4,700,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5:€9,000,000 (around €3,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12:€15,000,000 (around €5,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-13:€31,500,000 (around €10,500,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-18:€20,000,000 (around €10,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-19:€24,000,000 (€4,000,000 to €12,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-20:€14,000,000 (around €7,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-21:€12,000,000 (around €4,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-22:€12,000,000 (around €6,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)
HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-29:€25,000,000 (around €5,000,000 per grant, 5 grants)
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:Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate, which would likely be below 10% given the competitiveness of Horizon Europe calls.
Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.
Summary:This Horizon Europe call, part of the BATTERIES and ENERGY program (HORIZON-CL5-2026-03), aims to enhance the competitiveness and security of Europe's clean energy system by funding research and innovation projects that address critical issues in the renewable energy technology value chains. The call supports both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), covering a wide range of project stages. Eligible applicants include various legal entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU countries, with specific provisions. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, with amounts varying by topic, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The call focuses on strengthening European autonomy and industrial leadership in renewable energy, developing technical and value chain solutions, and addressing key aspects such as material efficiency, circularity, digital tools, and sustainable feedstock.
Short Summary
Impact Strengthen European autonomy, research capacity, and industrial leadership on solutions for competitiveness-related aspects of renewable energy value chains. | Impact | Strengthen European autonomy, research capacity, and industrial leadership on solutions for competitiveness-related aspects of renewable energy value chains. |
Applicant Research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships capable of conducting research and innovation activities. | Applicant | Research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships capable of conducting research and innovation activities. |
Developments Development of solutions addressing critical aspects affecting competitiveness of specific renewable energy technologies and their value chains, including material efficiency, circularity, and digital tools. | Developments | Development of solutions addressing critical aspects affecting competitiveness of specific renewable energy technologies and their value chains, including material efficiency, circularity, and digital tools. |
Applicant Type Research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships from EU Member States and Associated Countries. | Applicant Type | Research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships from EU Member States and Associated Countries. |
Consortium Single-stage submission allows both single applicants and multi-partner consortia to apply. | Consortium | Single-stage submission allows both single applicants and multi-partner consortia to apply. |
Funding Amount €3,000,000 per project, with a total budget of €9,000,000 for 3 expected grants. | Funding Amount | €3,000,000 per project, with a total budget of €9,000,000 for 3 expected grants. |
Countries EU Member States and Associated Countries, with emphasis on strengthening European autonomy and industrial leadership in renewable energy. | Countries | EU Member States and Associated Countries, with emphasis on strengthening European autonomy and industrial leadership in renewable energy. |
Industry Clean energy and renewable energy sector, focusing on value chain competitiveness and manufacturing. | Industry | Clean energy and renewable energy sector, focusing on value chain competitiveness and manufacturing. |
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