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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Grant Purpose and Target

Core objective: Demonstrate innovative thermal energy storage solutions for solar thermal plants and systems to significantly reduce costs, improve dispatchability, and support the broader clean energy transition.
Target recipient type and size: Technology providers, innovators, and research organizations, typically involved in consortia.
Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC (Energy, Solar Thermal)
Geographic scope: Organisations from EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Funding provisions may exist for certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Focus on late-stage demonstration of thermal energy storage (TES) for solar applications (CSP, solar thermal heat/cold), aiming for substantial improvements in performance, cost, and lifespan. Projects must include a clear 'go/no-go' milestone for demonstration, including detailed engineering and permit acquisition.
Grant frequency and program context: This is a specific topic under the Horizon Europe Cluster 5 'Climate, Energy and Mobility' Work Programme 2025, suggesting a recurring thematic focus within the broader Horizon Europe framework.

Financial Structure

Total available budget for this specific topic: 15,000,000 EUR.
Estimated number of projects to be funded: 2.
Minimum grant amount per project: 7,500,000 EUR.
Maximum grant amount per project: 7,500,000 EUR.
Currency: EUR.
Financial capacity requirements: Applicants must meet the financial and operational capacity criteria described in 'Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Grant setup: The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in 'Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes'. Specific details on funding rates (e.g., percentage of eligible costs covered) would be found here, but are not specified in the provided text.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type & Capacity

Eligible organization types: Generally open to legal entities such as private companies (including SMEs and larger enterprises), research organizations, universities, and public bodies. The specific type 'HORIZON Innovation Actions' typically encourages broad participation.
Organizational size and capacity requirements: Financial and operational capacity must meet the criteria described in 'Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes'.

Geographic Location

Eligible countries: As described in 'Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes'. This typically includes all EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe.
Non-EU/non-Associated Countries: Specific provisions may make funding available for participants from certain countries not automatically eligible.

Project Specifics

Technical focus: Proposed solutions must demonstrate innovative thermal energy storage solutions specifically for concentrated solar power (CSP) and/or solar thermal heat and/or cold.
Performance expectations: Solutions must achieve substantial improvements in performance, cost-effectiveness, and life span compared to the current state-of-the-art.
Project planning: A clear 'go/no-go' milestone is required before the demonstration phase. This milestone necessitates the delivery of detailed engineering plans, a comprehensive techno-economic assessment, and all required permits for the demonstrator. A clear pathway and timeline for obtaining permits must be presented in the proposal.

Application Process

Application Timeline

Submission system opening date: Planned for 2025-09-16.
Application deadline: 2026-02-17 00:00:00+00.
Submission model: Single-stage.
Evaluation and grant agreement timeline: Indicative timeline described in 'Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes'.

Required Documentation & Materials

Proposal page limit and layout: Details described in 'Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes'.
Application form: The specific application form for this call will be available in the Submission System.
Standard forms: Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) will be used. Standard evaluation forms (HE RIA, IA) will be used with necessary adaptations.
Technical plans: Proposals must include detailed engineering plans, a techno-economic assessment, and details on obtaining all necessary permits for the demonstrator.

Support & Assistance

Online Manual: Available for guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Provides detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Addresses frequently asked questions regarding proposal submission, evaluation, and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research.
National Contact Points (NCPs): Offer guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in many non-EU/non-associated countries.
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Provides advice to businesses, with a special focus on SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For technical assistance with the Funding & Tenders Portal (e.g., passwords, access rights, submission technicalities).
European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
European Standards Organisations (CEN-CENELEC, ETSI) Research Helpdesk: Advises on incorporating standardisation in project proposals.
European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their recruitment: Provides general principles and requirements for researchers, employers, and funders.
Partner Search: A facility is available to help find partner organizations for proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria and Prioritization

General criteria: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in 'Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Balanced portfolio consideration: Grants will be awarded not solely based on ranking, but with a specific aim to fund at least one highly-ranked proposal within concentrated solar power (CSP) and at least one within solar thermal heat and/or cold. This condition can also be met if a single funded proposal addresses both areas, provided all proposals meet the required thresholds and budget is available.

Expected Outcomes

Economic impact: Significant reduction of Levelised Cost of Heat Storage (LCOHS) and/or Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE).
Market readiness: Successful demonstration and de-risking of thermal energy storage solutions that enhance the dispatchability of solar thermal plants/systems, thereby improving technology providers' access to financing due to better understanding of bankability.
Grid integration: Providing electricity grid operators with reliable options to manage the increasing share of variable-output renewables and reduce curtailments.
Strategic alignment: Supporting and facilitating the execution of the solar thermal implementation plan of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.

Project Quality and Impact

Innovation: Proposed solutions must offer substantial improvements in performance, cost-effectiveness, and life span over existing technologies.
Sustainability: Assessment of the proposed solutions' environmental and socio-economic sustainability is required.
Safety standards: Consideration of the Commission initiative for Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) as a reference for assessing chemical and material safety and sustainability.
Exploitation potential: Plans for exploitation and dissemination of results must include a strong business case and a sound exploitation strategy. This includes preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment, indicating potential funding sources (e.g., the Innovation Fund).

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory & Ethical Compliance

Regulatory compliance: All applicable regulatory requirements are to be met, as described in 'Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Data protection and privacy: General Horizon Europe rules apply.
Environmental compliance: Assessment of the environmental sustainability of the proposed solutions is required.
Ethical standards: Projects must adhere to ethical standards, likely detailed in the general Horizon Europe Work Programme Annexes.
Safety standards: Consideration of the Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for assessing chemicals and materials is expected as a reference.

Project Implementation & Risk Management

Permit acquisition: A clear and convincing pathway and timeline for obtaining all necessary permits for the demonstrator must be presented.
Go/No-Go Milestone: Projects must include a clear 'go/no-go' milestone before entering the demonstration phase, based on the completion of detailed engineering plans, techno-economic assessment, and permit acquisition.
Risk management: Implied through the requirement for detailed planning and assessment, particularly for the demonstration phase.

Intellectual Property & Exploitation

Exploitation strategy: A strong business case and sound exploitation strategy are required, including preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment of results.
Funding sources: Exploitation plans should indicate possible future funding sources, notably the Innovation Fund.

Cross-Cutting Considerations

Strategic priorities: Projects are expected to address cross-cutting priorities such as AI, Digital Agenda, and RePowerEU.
Balanced portfolio: The evaluation process will ensure a balanced portfolio by prioritizing at least one project in concentrated solar power (CSP) and one in solar thermal heat and/or cold among funded proposals.

Grant Details