Thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery of high energy demand IT rooms in buildings or small edge data centres

The Horizon Europe funding opportunity HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-06 focuses on thermal energy optimization and waste heat recovery in high-energy-demand IT rooms and small edge data centers in buildings. It is classified as an Innovation Action (IA) and falls under the broader European initiative to enhance energy efficiency and support a transition towards climate neutrality.

Eligible applicants include organizations and consortia from EU Member States and Associated Countries. This includes research institutions, SMEs, large enterprises, public authorities, and non-profit organizations; however, entities from China are explicitly excluded from participation. The financial support is structured as a lump sum grant, with €5,250,000 available per project, and a total budget of €15,750,000 allocated to fund three projects in this topic area.

A consortium of at least three legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries is required for the submission of proposals, although the specific call does not explicitly confirm this requirement. The project's primary sectors include energy optimization, ICT, data centers, and building sustainability, with emphasis on cross-cutting technologies like artificial intelligence and advanced building management systems.

The project aims to develop and demonstrate state-of-the-art approaches to managing thermal energy effectively, particularly in varying climatic conditions, thus addressing different geographic challenges in waste heat recovery. This ensures that solutions can be adapted for both cold and warm climate zones.

The application process will be a single-stage submission, with the call opening on May 5, 2027, and closing on September 15, 2027. Proposals are expected to include practical solutions for thermal management and business cases for heat reuse that will contribute to the European climate goals and energy strategies.

Success rates for applications in this call are not explicitly provided, but historical data indicates a general success rate for similar calls within the Innovation Actions framework ranges from 10% to 20%. Co-funding requirements are not specified but are typically expected in Horizon Europe grants.

In summary, this opportunity seeks innovative solutions to improve thermal energy management in data centers, enhance energy efficiency, and foster a greener and more sustainable environment in line with the EU's strategic energy objectives.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to energy efficiency and sustainability, specifically within the context of buildings, industry, and ICT infrastructure. The overarching goal is to contribute to the EU's climate neutrality and sustainability objectives.

The general conditions applicable to these opportunities include:

1.  Admissibility Conditions: Proposals must adhere to specified page limits and layout guidelines, as detailed in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

2.  Eligible Countries: Eligibility is determined by Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries have provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects, as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3.  Other Eligible Conditions: Projects utilizing satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

4.  Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Assessed according to Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6.  Legal and financial set-up of the grants: The granting authority retains the right to object to ownership transfer or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the action's end, as per 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. Application and evaluation forms and the model grant agreement (MGA) are available in the Submission System.

Several topics are open for application under the BATTERIES and ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-05) call, all using the HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) funding scheme and the HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. All topics have a single-stage deadline model, with a planned opening date of 05 May 2027 and a deadline of 15 September 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The specific topics and their respective budgets and indicative number of grants are:

HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D2-08 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 18,800,000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 20,250,000 EUR and an indicative number of 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-06 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 15,750,000 EUR and an indicative number of 3 grants. This topic is specifically focused on Thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery of high energy demand IT rooms in buildings or small edge data centres. Project results are expected to improve open access to performance data and promote new designs for IT rooms and small edge data centers that valorize waste heat. Proposals should demonstrate holistic and cost-effective approaches to thermal management and excess heat recovery, taking into account thermal envelope/building, integration with building automation and control systems, and potential to improve self-assessment and self-optimisation functionalities. Demonstrators should be located in both cold and warm climate Member States or Associated Countries.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-07 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 27,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 4 grants.

HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-09 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 13,500,000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants.

The destination for these topics is "Using energy in buildings and industry in an efficient, affordable and sustainable way (2026-27)". This destination aims to improve energy efficiency in buildings and industry, contributing to the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan). It aligns with the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations of ‘Green transition’, ‘Digital transition’, and ‘A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe’. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

The expected outcomes include:

Improved energy performance of the European building stock.

Cost-efficient and affordable energy renovation and construction.

Buildings that interact with users, the energy system, and their environment in an integrated and resilient manner.

More climate-resilient and accessible buildings that improve quality of life and well-being.

Improved energy efficiency in EU energy-intensive industries, with reduced fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions.

There are partner search announcements available, and the submission system is planned to open on 05 May 2027.

In summary, this funding opportunity is geared towards projects that can significantly contribute to energy efficiency and sustainability in buildings, industry, and ICT infrastructure. It emphasizes innovation, cost-effectiveness, and the integration of various systems to achieve climate neutrality and resource efficiency. The focus is on demonstrating state-of-the-art solutions and developing viable business cases for their widespread adoption. It is about making buildings and industries greener, smarter, and more resilient while fostering a competitive and inclusive European economy.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, eligible applicants can include a wide range of legal entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, which falls under HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and nature of Innovation Actions, a consortium is highly probable. Partner search announcements are available, suggesting that consortia are expected.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. 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 target sectors are energy, ICT, buildings, and industry, with a focus on thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery in IT rooms and small edge data centres.

Mentioned Countries: China, EU Member States, and Associated Countries are mentioned.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the Innovation Action stage, implying demonstration and validation of technologies in real-world settings.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic:
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D2-08: EUR 18,800,000 (Indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 9,400,000 each)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-05: EUR 20,250,000 (Indicative number of grants: 3, around EUR 6,750,000 each)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-06: EUR 15,750,000 (Indicative number of grants: 3, around EUR 5,250,000 each)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-07: EUR 27,000,000 (Indicative number of grants: 4, around EUR 6,750,000 each)
HORIZON-CL5-2027-05-D4-09: EUR 13,500,000 (Indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,750,000 each)

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 to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, as a Horizon Europe Innovation Action, co-funding is often expected, but the specific requirements would be detailed in the call documents.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the BATTERIES and ENERGY program (HORIZON-CL5-2027-05), focuses on thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery in high-energy demand IT rooms and small edge data centres. The call aims to improve energy efficiency, promote climate neutrality, and support the green and digital transition by addressing the growing energy needs of the ICT sector. Projects should demonstrate state-of-the-art, cost-effective approaches to thermal management and excess heat recovery, develop business cases for heat reuse, and build synergies with other relevant projects. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the call is open to entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a planned opening date of May 5, 2027, and a deadline of September 15, 2027. The call targets the energy demand side in buildings and industry, contributing to the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and the EU's broader climate and energy goals.