Closed

Novel inverter technologies and flexibility in PV systems (EUPI-PV Partnership)

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Basic Information

Identifier
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-11
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-D3-11HORIZON-CL5-2025-02

Description

Expected Outcome:

Integrating renewable and distributed energy resources, such as photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage devices, into the electric distribution system requires advanced power electronics, or smart inverters, that can provide grid services such as voltage and frequency regulation, ride-through capabilities, dynamic current injection, and anti-islanding functionality. To enable this integration, designing novel smart inverter technologies, developing robust control algorithms for better inverter functionality, determining interactions between multiple smart inverters and between inverters and utility distribution systems, supporting standards development for smart inverter functionalities, and analysing the impacts of smart inverters on distribution systems is necessary.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

  • Energy yield improvement of PV systems based on smart digitalisation;
  • Optimal utilisation of generated energy, energy savings, and enhanced overall energy efficiency;
  • Enhanced flexibility services and interoperability;
  • The execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda[1].
Scope:

Proposals are expected to:

  • Demonstrate new inverter technologies with increased power density and reliability at lower cost (e.g., allowing for medium voltage PV systems), that integrate new power device technologies based on wide bandgap semiconductors (e.g., GaN, SiC) that could supply synthetic inertia and a range of grid services;
  • Design of smart (e.g., integrating condition and health monitoring), and with improved capabilities, inverter hardware and firmware;
  • Ensure inverters’ electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) proposing optimal mitigation techniques for the causes and propagation pathways of electromagnetic interference (EMI), and conformity with current and under development standards;
  • Use of control and power hardware-in-the-loop techniques to determine interactions between multiple inverters at multiple points of common coupling;
  • Demonstrate integrated communication connection between inverters and other components (e.g., battery, PV modules, grid, etc.) to automatically gather their information (serial number, geolocalisation, etc.) and support the creation of Digital Twins and PV data models, towards a real predictive monitoring of electricity production;
  • Evaluate system integration and cybersecurity, while providing guidance for future developments (e.g., recyclability) in both hardware and software.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.

[1] Commission Staff Working Document "Solar energy joint research and innovation agenda with Member States in the context of the European Research Area (ERA)"

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 OrientationsGreen 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

  1. 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.
  2. Technology providers have access to European, reliable, sustainable, and affordable value chains of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies.
  3. 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.
  4. European researchers benefit from a stronger community and from a reinforced scientific basis on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international collaborations.
  5. European industries benefit from a reinforced export potential of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international collaborations.
  6. European industries become frontrunners and maintain technological leadership in innovative renewable energy technologies in line with the energy union strategy.
  7. 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.
  8. 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)

  1. 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).
  2. 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

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

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

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

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].

described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions

described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

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.

National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).

Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.

IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.

CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.

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

Last Changed: September 5, 2025

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. 



Last Changed: September 2, 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.

Last Changed: May 9, 2025
The submission session is now available for: HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-09, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-26, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-11, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-15, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-11, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-17, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-25, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-12, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-16, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-10, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-04, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-03, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-21, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-27, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-06, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-08, HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D2-06
Novel inverter technologies and flexibility in PV systems (EUPI-PV Partnership) | Grantalist