Integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites (Processes4Planet partnership) (RIA)
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See in 5 min if you're eligible for Integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites (Processes4Planet partnership) (RIA) offering max €45.0M funding💰 Funding Details
Funding Description
What is financed
* Research and Innovation Activities (RIA) leading to integrated, multi-energy solutions that combine renewable electricity, hydrogen, solar heat, ammonia, etc. in energy-intensive industrial sites.
* Development of prototype designs, advanced process-control and AI optimisation tools, on-site storage, logistics and risk assessments.
* Systemic demonstrations (open-loop or pilot scale) in real industrial clusters, incl. simulations validated with plant data.
* Life-cycle, techno-economic and business-case analyses, skills-development actions and dissemination/standardisation work.
Budget & Funding Rate
* Maximum EU contribution per project: up to €45 million.
* Funding rate: 100 % of eligible direct costs + 25 % flat-rate for indirect costs (HORIZON-AG MGA rules for RIAs).
* Expected EU budget envelope for the topic: ~€78–90 million (indicative; 2–3 projects foreseen).
Timeline
* Call opens: 22 May 2025
* Deadline (single stage): 23 Sep 2025, 17:00 CET
* Evaluation results: ~Jan 2026
* Grant Agreement signature: ~May 2026
* Project duration typically 42–60 months.
Eligibility Snapshot
* Consortium must include ≥3 independent legal entities from ≥3 different EU or Associated Countries, with ≥1 established in an EU Member State.
* Industrial participants from energy-intensive sectors (steel, chemicals, cement, glass, non-ferrous metals, pulp & paper, etc.) are mandatory; at least one demo site owner/operator must be a full beneficiary.
* Synergies with Processes4Planet, existing Hubs4Circularity, national IPCEIs or cohesion funds are encouraged.
* Associated partners from third countries are welcome, but Chinese entities cannot receive funding in Innovation Actions (not applicable here, but keep in mind for any IA follow-up).
Key Requirements at a Glance
* TRL at start: 3–4 ➜ TRL at end: 5–6
* Deliver secure, FAIR-compliant data spaces enabling interoperability across the value chain.
* Include a robust business case & exploitation strategy, and a skills strategy co-created with social partners.
* Address risk management, logistics, grid interactions, renewable certificates, demand-side flexibility and workplace adaptation.
* Open Science and gender-dimension considerations are obligatory (HE rules).
📊 At a Glance
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🇪🇺 Strategic Advantages
EU-Wide Advantages and Opportunities for "Integrated use of renewable energy carriers in industrial sites (Processes4Planet partnership)"
Single Market Access
- 450+ million consumers / 25,000+ energy-intensive sites: Successful solutions can be rolled out in steel, chemicals, cement, paper and other clusters across the EU without customs barriers.
- Pan-EU Guarantees of Origin (GO) & Renewable Energy Certificates: The project can pilot traceability schemes that are valid in all Member States, easing market uptake of green products.
- Public Procurement Leverage: Green criteria under the Clean Energy Package and Net-Zero Industry Act allow procurers in any country to purchase low-carbon industrial products developed by the consortium.
Cross-Border Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
- Consortia size freedom: Horizon rules allow partners from any 27 EU + 18 associated countries; ideal for pairing renewable-rich regions (e.g. Iberian solar, Nordic hydro, North Sea wind) with demand centres (Rhine-Ruhr, Po Valley).
- Industrial Symbiosis Across Borders: CO2-, H₂- or heat-pipeline links can be planned beyond national grids, accelerating cross-cluster hubs4Circularity.
- Mutual Recognition of Safety & Data Standards: CEN/CENELEC and ISO adoption inside the project removes duplication of certification work.
EU Policy Alignment
- European Green Deal & Fit-for-55: Direct contribution to 2030 – 55 % GHG reduction target.
- REPowerEU: Substitutes Russian fossil fuels with domestic renewables & green H₂.
- Digital Europe & Data Act: FAIR, interoperable industrial data spaces align with GAIA-X and Manufacturing-X initiatives.
- Skills Agenda & Pact for Skills: Joint curricula can tap ESF+ for mass-up-skilling after the project.
Regulatory Harmonisation Benefits
- EU ETS & Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): Demonstrated CO₂ cuts lower ETS liabilities and provide first-mover advantage before CBAM full phase-in.
- Network Codes for Electricity & Hydrogen: Developing control algorithms in line with ENTSO-E/ENTSOG codes eases later grid connection approvals EU-wide.
Innovation Ecosystem & R&D Excellence
- Access to 180+ Technology Platforms, 70+ EIT KIC nodes, 50+ Digital Innovation Hubs that specialise in AI/edge control or process industries.
- Synergies with existing Processes4Planet, Clean Hydrogen JU, SPIRE projects—reuse datasets, demo sites, and IPR pools.
- Open-source reference architectures can be incubated on EUCloud, EuroHPC facilities for AI training.
Funding Synergies
- Innovation Fund (large-scale calls) for TRL 8-9 follow-up CAPEX.
- CEF-Energy & CEF-Digital for cross-border H₂ backbones and data infrastructure.
- InvestEU & EIB Green Loans to derisk first-of-a-kind commercial plants.
- Regional Funds (ERDF / Just Transition Fund) to replicate in coal & carbon-intensive regions.
Scale & Impact Potential
- Replicability blueprint covering technical packages, business models and workforce transition plan can be standardised under CEN Workshop Agreement.
- 10–20 % industrial electricity peak-load shaving and 30–50 % CO₂ reduction evidenced in 2–3 demo hubs → extrapolates to 50–100 Mt CO₂-e/year if adopted by top 200 EU sites.
- Supports grid stability equivalent to 2–4 GW flexible demand—valuable ancillary service market revenue stream.
Strategic Value of Acting at EU Level
1. Economies of scale: Shared component specs (electrolysers, thermal storage) drive bulk purchasing costs down by 15–25 % compared with isolated national pilots.
2. Risk pooling: Diversified renewable resource portfolio mitigates intermittency and investment risk.
3. Unified voice: Consortium can shape upcoming EU standards on industrial renewable integration, influencing global norms.
Recommended Next Steps for Applicants
- Map complementary assets in at least 3 climates & grid contexts (e.g. Mediterranean solar, Continental wind, Nordic hydro).
- Engage TSOs/DSOs early to co-design flexibility services eligible for EU Balancing & Capacity markets.
- Align KPIs with JRC’s INCITE & EIGL datasets to maximise policy relevance and visibility.
🏷️ Keywords
Ready to Apply?
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