Novel approaches to geothermal resources development
HORIZON Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03
- Programme
- Cluster 5 Call 02-2025 (WP 2025)
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- May 6, 2025
- Deadline
- September 3, 2025
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €5,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €5,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €5,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03HORIZON-CL5-2025-02
Description
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Developers and energy providers benefit from de-risking and cost reduction of geothermal resource development;
- Citizens benefit from energy efficient, sustainable, generation of electricity, direct heat, and/or heating and cooling from geothermal resources in a wide range of geological settings;
- Technology leadership, competitiveness, and technology export potential of European industry in the geothermal energy supply chain are increased;
- The technological innovation is environmentally sound, aligned with societal values, norms and behavioural aspects of end users and actors across the whole geothermal value chain, improving energy justice and citizenship.
Proposals should focus on the demonstration of innovative approaches to resource development in: (i) the area of shallow & low/mid enthalpy geothermal (0-500 meter-depth and temperature below 150ºC) and/or (ii) in the area of deep & high enthalpy geothermal (beyond 500 meter-depth and temperature above 150ºC). Proposals should also expressly identify whether they are addressing the area of (i) shallow geothermal; (ii) deep geothermal; or (iii) both shallow and deep geothermal.
Drilling and subsurface engineering account for a large part of the costs of geothermal projects, and on-field project development contains significant risks due to inherent geological uncertainties. Reducing costs upfront, improving performance, estimating uncertainty, and reducing risk can therefore boost the geothermal capacity deployment rate.
The scope covers advances beyond the state of the art in one/several of the following points:
- subsurface engineering;
- well design, drilling and completion;
- reservoir characterisation and development planning.
Proposals should include one or more of the following: robot and AI-physics-based simulation solutions for geothermal resource development, novel cost-efficient drilling methods and equipment, advanced drilling fluids, new materials for casing, cementing and completion, working fluids, logging while drilling, wireline technologies and geosteering high temperature electronics, well architecture and stimulation, closed loop technology, enhanced production pumps, and innovative monitoring systems during geothermal resources exploitation including their integration in digital twins.
Proposals are expected to reduce project development time while ensuring safety of operations and adaptation to specific geothermal environments (including offshore), constraining and quantifying geological uncertainties, reducing field development and seismic risks. They can include standardisation of the drilling equipment enhanced well production, enhanced environmental performance, improve component resistance to corrosion, scaling, high temperature, wear, and mechanical failures, increase energy extraction.
The project must include a clear go/no-go milestone ahead of entering the demonstration phase of the project. Before this go/no-go milestone, delivery of the detailed engineering plans, a techno-economic assessment, and all needed permits for the demonstrator should be foreseen. The project proposal is expected to present a clear and convincing pathway and timeline to obtaining the permits.
Environmental impact of the proposal should be assessed, and mitigation measures considered.
Where relevant, the project is expected to follow FAIR data principles, adopt data quality standards, data integration operating procedures and GDPR-compliant data sharing/access good practices developed by the European research infrastructures.
In order to enhance the benefits of the technology, proposals are expected to develop understandings of how the utilisation of geothermal resources aligns with the cultural values and contextual settings at local to regional level and increase the responsiveness of geothermal energy to diverse societal interests and concerns. To achieve that, an inclusive, early and continuous societal engagement should be enhanced.
In particular, this topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise (applied to social innovation), in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
Destination & Scope
This Destination includes activities targeting a sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply. In line with the scope of cluster 5, this includes activities in the areas of renewable energy; energy system, grids and storage; as well as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).
This Destination contributes directly to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations ‘Green transition’, ‘Digital transition’ and ‘A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe’.
In line with the Strategic Plan, the overall expected impact of this Destination is to contribute to the ‘Ensuring more sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply through solutions for smart energy systems based on renewable energy solutions’.
This destination contributes to the activities of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and its implementation working groups.
The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are:
Renewable energy
- Energy producers have access to competitive European renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies and deploy them to enhance the EU’s energy security. This will contribute to the 2030 “Fit for 55” targets (in particular, at least 42.5% renewable energy share and aiming for 45% in the EU energy consumption, 5.5% advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin share in EU fuel consumption). It will also contribute to the indicative target of at least 5% innovative renewable energy technology for the newly installed renewable energy capacity. By 2050, climate neutrality in the energy sector will be achieved in a sustainable way in environmental (e.g., biodiversity, multiple uses of land and water, natural resources, pollution) and socioeconomic terms, and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Technology providers have access to European, reliable, sustainable, and affordable value chains of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies.
- Economic sectors benefit from better integration of renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions that are among others cost-effective, efficient, flexible, reliable, and sustainable. Such integration is facilitated by digital technologies and by renewable energy technologies that provide network stability and reliability.
- European researchers benefit from a stronger community and from a reinforced scientific basis on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international collaborations.
- European industries benefit from a reinforced export potential of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international collaborations.
- European industries become frontrunners and maintain technological leadership in innovative renewable energy technologies in line with the energy union strategy.
- European citizens, including disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, have access to an energy market that is affordable, fair and equitable, more resilient, uses all different types of local renewable energy resources, and is less dependent on fossil fuels. Local communities benefit from a more decentralised and secure energy system and from multiple uses of land and water. Less citizens experience fuel and energy poverty.
- Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) implementation working groups on solar photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, renewable fuels and bioenergy, wind energy, geothermal energy, and ocean energy benefit from a reinforced scientific basis and collaboration on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies towards meeting the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal.
Energy systems, grids & storage
R&I actions will support the just digital and green transformation of the energy system through advanced solutions for accelerating the energy systems integration and decarbonisation. The developed clean, sustainable solutions will contribute to making the energy system and supply more reliable, resilient, and secure. The solutions will contribute to increase flexibility and grid hosting capacity for renewables through optimising cross sector integration and grid scale storage. They will enhance the competitiveness of the European value chain, reduce pressure on resources (also by making technologies ‘circular by design’) and decrease dependencies.
Innovative and cost-effective energy storage (integration) solutions are developed, that provide flexibility to the energy system, reduce total cost of grid operation and enhancement and that minimise the use of critical raw materials and ensure, to the best extent possible, their reuse and recycling, are key elements of the energy system.
Carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
- Accelerated development of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) as a CO2 emission mitigation option in electricity generation, in industry applications and carbon dioxide removal technologies (including conversion of CO2 to energy products).
- Reduced EU’s dependency on imported fossil fuels and increased energy security, reduced energy system’s vulnerability to the impacts of the changing climate.
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The following exceptions apply: subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded to proposals not only in order of ranking but at least also to one proposal that is the highest ranked within the area of shallow & low/mid enthalpy geothermal (0-500 m depth and temperature below 150ºC) and at least also to one proposal that is the highest ranked within the area of deep & high enthalpy geothermal ( above 500 m depth and temperature above 150ºC), provided that proposals attain all thresholds (and subject to available budget). This condition to ensure a balanced portfolio will also be considered to be met if a proposal addressing both areas is funded.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
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The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Latest Updates
PROPOSAL NUMBERS
Call HORIZON-CL5-2025-02 has closed on the 03/09/2025 (17:00).
233 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-03 (IA): 16 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-06 (CSA): 1 proposal
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-08 (RIA): 38 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-10 (COFUND): 1 proposal
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-11 (CSA): 20 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-12 (CSA): 0 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03 (IA): 17 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-04 (RIA): 19 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-06 (IA): 23 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-09 (IA): 2 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-11 (IA): 18 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-15 (CSA): 12 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-16 (CSA): 2 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-17 (IA): 7 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-21 (IA): 12 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-25 (RIA): 14 proposals
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-26 (RIA): 1 proposal
- HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-27 (IA): 30 proposals
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in December 2025.
Please note that the deadline of all 18 topics under call HORIZON-CL5-2025-02 has been postponed from 02 September 2025 to 03 September 2025 - 17:00:00 Brussels local time.