Time is fast running out to respond to the final 2019 Calls for Proposals from the European Commission’s ‘Horizon 2020’ Energy programme.  Deadlines just now over three weeks away…!

The Call likely to be of most relevance to IFRF members, i.e. ‘Enabling near-zero CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel power plants and carbon intensive industries’ (NZE), has the following two Call ‘topics’ (i.e. funding actions), open:

• NZE-4-2019: Integrated solutions for flexible operation of fossil fuel power plants through ‘power-to-x-to-power’ and/or energy storage  [closing 27^th August; €6-10M per project; €20M total EC funding available]
• NZE-5-2019: Low-carbon industrial production using CCUS  [closing 27^th August; €10-12M per project; €33m total EC funding available].

Both of these topics are classified by the EC as ‘Innovation Actions’ (IA).  This means that they:

• Can include a demonstration or pilot to validate technical and economic viability of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution in an operational (or near to operational) environment.
• Can involve ‘market replication’, i.e. support for the first application or deployment in the market of an already demonstrated innovation.
• Must involve three independent legal entities from different Member States of the European Union or Associated Countries.
• Attract a funding rate of up to a maximum of 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a maximum of 100% applies).

More information on these two topics can be found in the latest update of EC’s Work Programme 2018-2020 for the ‘Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy’ theme.  A final Call in the NZE sub-theme on ‘Geological Storage Pilots’ is still indicated for 2020.

‘Horizon Europe’ – have your say!

As the EC’s Horizon 2020 framework programme draws towards its conclusion next year, the Commission is already starting to formulate the direction of its successor – the ‘Horizon Europe’ programme.

Running from 2021 to 2027 and with a proposed budget of €100 billion, Horizon Europe represents the largest collaborative multinational research and innovation investment in Europe and is open to participants worldwide.

As a key part of this, the EC is inviting stakeholders to help shape the EU’s future research and innovation investment.  Having set out its thoughts in an orientation document, the EC is inviting companies, research organisations and other interested parties to help to co-design the programme.  The consultation closes on 8^th September 2019.