This call aims to support highly innovative, disruptive or breakthrough technologies that enable deep decarbonisation and contribute to achieving EU climate neutrality.

Scope and Eligible Activities
Funding is available for the construction and operation of pilot projects that validate, test and optimise innovative decarbonisation solutions across all sectors supported by the Innovation Fund. Eligible projects may include:

• Technologies in sectors covered by the EU ETS (Annex I and III), including environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and low-carbon product substitutes.
• Innovative energy storage systems.
• CO₂ storage solutions.
• Renewable energy installations, such as photovoltaics, solar thermal and concentrated solar power, onshore and offshore wind, ocean energy, geothermal, and innovative grid-connection systems.

Key Requirements

• A higher level of innovation is required compared to other topics under the call.
• Projects must address technical risks and focus on testing and validating technologies in an operational environment at pilot scale, prior to large-scale demonstration or commercial production.
• Limited production or operation for testing and customer validation is allowed.
• Projects typically last 3-5 years.
• Proposals must include a clear strategy for scaling up to large-scale deployment or first-of-a-kind commercial production.
• Technologies must be compatible with the 2050 climate neutrality objective, with very low residual emissions or net carbon removals.
• Projects should strengthen EU/EEA industrial capacity, technology leadership, supply chains and strategic autonomy.

Funding Conditions

• Maximum Innovation Fund support per project: EUR 40 million.
• Only projects that have not reached financial close by the proposal submission date are eligible.