Grants8 logo Grants8
Login Create account

Grant Details

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Grant Purpose and Target
  • Core Objective: Support the just transition of coal sectors and regions towards a climate-neutral Union economy by 2050, focusing on environmental, health, safety, and socio-economic aspects.
  • Target Recipient Type and Size: Not explicitly defined in provided text. This call is typically open to research organizations, industrial entities, and public bodies involved in the coal sector.
  • Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC
  • Geographic Scope: EU Member States, with specific attention to coal-dependent regions.
  • Key Filtering Criteria: Projects must demonstrate a direct contribution to the phase-out of fossil fuels, development of alternative activities on former mine sites, management of environmental damage from coal mines, and support for affected workers and communities.
  • Grant Frequency and Program Context: This is part of the RFCS-2025 call, indicating it is likely an annual or recurring funding opportunity within the broader Research Fund for Coal and Steel program (2021-2027), aligned with the European Green Deal.

Financial Structure

Financial Structure
  • Total Budget for this topic (RFCS-2025-01-AM): EUR 1,000,000.
  • Minimum Grant Amount per Project: Not specified.
  • Maximum Grant Amount per Project: Not specified.
  • Currency: EUR (Euro).
  • Funding Rate: Not specified.
  • Eligible Costs: Not detailed in the provided text, but the grant is described as an 'RFCS Action Grant Budget-Based', implying that eligible cost categories are defined in the specific call documents (section 10).
  • Matching Fund Requirements: Not specified.
  • Co-financing Requirements: Not specified.
  • Financial Reporting Requirements: Described in section 10 of the call document.
  • Audit Requirements: Described in section 10 of the call document.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements
  • Eligible Countries: Organizations established in the following EU Member States are eligible to apply (as specified in section 6 of the call document, details not provided here, so standard EU eligibility is assumed):
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • Organizational Type: Not explicitly defined in the provided text. RFCS grants typically target research organizations, industrial companies, universities, and public bodies active in relevant fields.
  • Formal Criteria: All applicants must meet the following formal requirements:
    • Adhere to the proposal page limit and layout described in section 5 of the call document.
    • Satisfy other specific eligibility conditions detailed in section 6 of the call document.
    • Demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity, and not be subject to exclusion criteria as outlined in section 7 of the call document.
  • Technical Expertise: Implicitly required expertise in areas such as carbon capture, geothermal energy, mining waste management, environmental technologies, and socio-economic transition strategies related to coal.
  • Legal Structure: Not explicitly defined in the provided materials.

Application Process

Application Practical Information
  • Application Deadline: 2025-09-24T00:00:00+0000 (UTC).
  • Planned Opening Date: 2025-06-18.
  • Submission Model: Single-stage.
  • Required Documentation and Materials:
    • Standard application form (RFCS) - available in the Submission System.
    • Detailed budget table (RFCS).
    • Content of Evaluation Forms (RFCS) - Annex 3 of the Call document.
  • Application Procedure:
    • Proposals must be submitted via the Electronic Submission Service on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
    • Applicants need to confirm their choice of action type and Model Grant Agreement in the submission system.
  • Evaluation and Review Process:
    • Submission and evaluation processes are described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
    • Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in section 4 of the call document.
  • Supporting Materials Required: Not explicitly listed beyond application forms and budget table in the provided text.
  • Application Assistance Availability:
    • Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide.
    • IT Helpdesk is available for technical questions, access rights, and submission issues.
    • Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for questions related to proposal submission.
  • Post-Award Requirements:
    • Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in section 10 of the call document.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria
  • Award Criteria: The specific award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section 9 of the call document, which is not provided in this text.
  • Alignment with Objectives (Research Objectives for Coal - Council Decision 2008/376/EC amended by Council Decision EU 2021/1094):
    • Article 4 - Supporting the Just Transition of the Coal Sector and Regions: Projects are evaluated on their contribution to:
      • Development and testing of carbon dioxide capture, use, and storage (CCUS) technologies.
      • Use of geothermal energy on former coal sites.
      • Non-energetic uses and production of raw materials from mining wastes and residues.
      • Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines and coal-related infrastructure.
      • Promotion of efficient re-skilling and upskilling programs for workers affected by coal phase-out.
      • Strengthening European leadership in managing the transition through technological and non-technological solutions.
      • Demonstrating tangible climate and environmental benefits in line with climate neutrality by 2050.
    • Article 5 - Improving Health and Safety: Projects are evaluated on how they address:
      • Safety in coal mines (in closure or formerly operating) to improve working conditions, occupational health, and safety.
      • Environmental issues deleterious to health in coal regions.
      • Research on diseases related to mining activities with the aim of improving health of people living in coal regions.
      • Ensuring protective measures during mine closure and in formerly operating mines.
    • Article 6 - Minimizing the Environmental Impacts of Coal Mines in Transition: Preference is given to projects that envisage one or more of the following:
      • New and improved technologies to avoid environmental pollution (including methane leakage) from coal mines and their surroundings (atmosphere, land, soils, water).
      • Capturing, avoiding, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, from coal deposits.
      • Managing and reusing mining waste, fly ash, and desulphurisation products.
      • Refurbishing waste heaps and using industrially residues from coal production and consumption.
      • Protecting water tables and purifying mine drainage water.
      • Restoring the environment of former installations or those in closure that used coal, and their surroundings.
      • Protecting surface infrastructure against effects of subsidence and ground movements.
  • Impact Expectations: Proposals should align with the European Green Deal objectives, demonstrating contribution to a fair and prosperous society, a resource-efficient and competitive economy, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and decoupling economic growth from resource use. Focus on areas and people most affected by the transition.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Compliance and Special Requirements
  • Regulatory Compliance: Projects must adhere to RFCS Decision 2008/376/EC as amended by Council Decision EU 2021/1094, and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
  • Environmental Compliance: A core requirement is to minimize environmental impacts of coal mines (in transition or formerly operating) on atmosphere, water, and soils. Strong emphasis on achieving climate neutrality, avoiding/minimizing greenhouse gas emissions (especially methane), and restoring natural resources.
  • Ethical Standards: While not explicitly detailed, adherence to general EU ethical research guidelines is typically expected for such grants.
  • Social Considerations: Projects must address the 'just transition' aspect, including re-skilling and upskilling programs for workers affected by coal phase-out, and improving the health of people living in coal regions.
  • Innovation Requirements: The grant encourages new and improved technologies, as well as non-technological solutions for managing the transition.
  • Risk Management: Implicitly covered by protective measures during mine closure and addressing environmental and health impacts.
  • Intellectual Property Policies: Not specified in the provided text, typically detailed in the Model Grant Agreement.

Grant Details

rfcs coal mining just transition carbon capture ccus geothermal energy mining wastes mine closure environmental impact health and safety methane emissions greenhouse gas re-skilling upskilling renewable energy eu green deal climate action pollution control waste management water treatment soil remediation infrastructure repurposing social impact european union research and innovation energy transition sustainable development
RFCS-2025 Coal Accompanying Measures
48271083TOPICSen
Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS)
OTHER
AT BE BG HR CY CZ DK EE FI FR DE GR HU IE IT LV LT LU MT NL PL PT RO SK SI ES SE
ENERGY ENVIRONMENT OTHER
DEVELOPMENT PILOT_PROJECTS INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION
OTHER
SDG3 SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG11 SDG12 SDG13 SDG15
FUNDING RESEARCH_DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY_BUILDING INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION TRAINING_EDUCATION
1000000.00
None
None
EUR
None
Sept. 24, 2025, midnight
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in section 4 of the call document.