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Launch of the 2023 Innovation Fund call for Net Zero Technologies  

On 23 November 2023, the European Commission launched the Innovation Fund 2023 call to support Net Zero technologies. The Innovation Fund supports projects (technologies, processes, business models) that are not yet commercially available, but represent breakthrough solutions or are sufficiently mature to be ready for demonstration at pre-commercial scale.

The call is divided in five topics with individual budget and capital expenditure criteria:

Important elements of call

  • Maximum aid intensity: 60% (In Pilot projects the maximum amount of grant for an individual project is limited to EUR 40 million.)
  • Consortium: Applications may be submitted individually or by consortium.
  • Operating period:
    - for all topics except small-scale and pilots is 5 years after entry into     operation;
    - for small-scale and pilots is 3 years after entry into operation;
  • Financial close: within four years after grant signature.

Activities that can be funded

1. Large-scale, medium-scale and small-scale projects:

  • Activities supporting innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes;
  •  Activities helping stimulate the construction and operation of projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2;
  • Activities helping stimulate the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy and energy storage technologies;
  •  Hydrogen applications in industry and hydrogen production projects with a demonstrated sufficient degree of innovation;
  • In the maritime and aviation transport sectors breakthrough innovative technologies, including energy efficiency, sustainable alternative fuels, electrification and zero-emission propulsion technologies, such as wind technologies, including innovative infrastructure in the maritime sector, notably for EU container transhipment ports.

2. Clean-tech manufacturing projects

 
  • Construction and operation of manufacturing facilities to produce specific components for:
        - renewable energy installations, including their connection to the     electricity/heat grid;
        - electrolysers and fuel cells;
        -  energy storage solutions covering both batteries and other storage     solutions for stationary and mobile use for intra-day and long duration     storage;
        - heat pumps.
  • Manufacturing of components and materials that are a significant factor in the final equipment’s performance and/or cost.
  • Activities relating to recycling or reusing critical materials to be used in the above equipment categories or components may also be funded under this topic.
  • Equipment, components and materials where the main innovation lies in the product as well as in the production processes.

3. Pilot projects:

  • Construction and operation of pilot projects that focus on validating, testing and optimising highly innovative, disruptive or breakthrough technologies in deep decarbonisation needed for achieving the climate neutrality goal.
  • Regarding pilot projects, a higher degree of innovation is expected than in the other topics.

Which projects are worth applying for?

The purpose of the Innovation Fund is to support projects that:

  • result in the avoidance of significant amounts of greenhouse gas emissions;
  • enhance Europe’s innovation and industrial capacity;
  • present highly innovative or disruptive solutions;
  • have high market and growth potential.

When and what must be submitted?

The submission deadline is 9 April 2024. The submitted application must contain the presentation of the following aspects:

  • Degree of innovation
  • GHG emission avoidance potential
  • Technical, financial, and operational maturity
  • Replicability
  • Cost efficiency

Entities considering an innovative sustainability project that may fall within the scope of the call should consider the possibility of applying, for which Deloitte experts are at your disposal.

For further information about the call, please feel free to contact our experts.

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