Hydrogen Valleys (small-scale)
HORIZON JU Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022-06-02
- Programme
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- March 31, 2022
- Deadline
- September 20, 2022
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €121,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €7,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €7,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- Civil engineeringMechanical engineeringInnovation managementChemical engineeringTechnology managementBusiness managementhydrogen valleyhydrogen productionhydrogen transporthydrogen end-useshydrogen energy
Description
Building on the successful experience of previous years (Hydrogen Valleys in the FCH 2 JU call 2019 and Hydrogen Islands in the FCH 2 JU call 2020), this topic calls for the deployment of a flagship[1] Hydrogen Valley in areas of Europe with no or limited presence of Hydrogen Valleys such as, but not necessarily limited to, Central and Eastern European Countries.
Proposals under this topic are expected to demonstrate how they contribute to the objectives of the European Hydrogen Strategy and the European Green Deal.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- At least [5] additional H2 Valleys projects are initiated before 2027;
- Replicable model for production or distribution and storage and end-use applications, in view of optimisation of investments as key parameter for financial viability;
- Improved public perception of H2 ecosystems, with the aim to contributing towards an EU hydrogen infrastructure backbone, e.g. HRS network, H2 pipeline, NG pipeline retrofitted to H2, etc.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA for H2 Valleys. In particular:
- System integration: integrating several elements together to improve overall synergies and facilitate sector coupling;
- System efficiency: improvement of overall energy and economic efficiency of the integrated system;
- Improved security and resilience of the energy system, e.g. via hydrogen production using locally available renewable energy sources,
- Market creation: demonstration of new market for hydrogen
- Complementarity of hydrogen with RES, integration with other technologies, existing infrastructure;
- Assessment of the availability and affordability of clean (pollution free) energy provision for industry and cities uses; whilst also considering environmental impacts like water utilisation;
- Mutualisation of production or distribution and storage, assuming decentralisation as key parameter;
- Help set or test regulation requirements at the relevant governance level;
- Increase the knowledge management with assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impacts, including the concept of digital twin assuring an effective monitor and optimisation strategy for the operation and further development of the valley;
- Development of public awareness of hydrogen technologies including contributions from Social Science and Humanities if this was relevant.
- Support development of Hydrogen Valleys in areas of Europe with no or limited presence of Hydrogen Valleys.
In addition, proposals should demonstrate how they intend to reach the KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA 2021-2027 for each of the technologies deployed in the H2 Valley.
Scope:A Hydrogen Valley is covering a defined geographical area in which hydrogen serves in general more than one end user or application in mobility, industry and energy. They typically comprise a substantial financial investment and cover as much as possible the necessary steps in the hydrogen value chain, from production (and often even dedicated renewable electricity production) to subsequent storage and its transport & distribution to various off-takers. Hydrogen Valleys are starting to form regional "hydrogen economies”. Such projects are necessary for piloting global hydrogen markets and should be expanded in number or scale to demonstrate the full range of benefits from the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier
The scope of this topic is to develop, deploy and demonstrate a hydrogen valley having the aim to increase in size and characteristics overtime. Particular attention is given to actions supporting the design and development of a Hydrogen Valley in areas of Europe with no or limited presence of Hydrogen Valleys such as, but not necessarily limited to, Central and Eastern European Countries.
Technical
Proposals should:
- Showcase the ability of hydrogen and its associated technologies to decarbonise one or two sectors in EU through this renewable hydrogen flagship project;
- Demonstrate how hydrogen enables sector coupling and allows integration of renewable energy on the selected territory;
- Include plans for transport, storage and distribution of hydrogen with a growing level of ambition over the years;
- Cover the complete value chain of H2 from production to distribution, storage and end-use in order to decarbonise a geographical area by harnessing renewables with significant fluctuations in seasonal energy demand, while at the same time allowing matching supply and demand on a daily basis. The proposed solution should thus provide energy flexibility and improve the Regions’ system resilience through the use of renewable hydrogen. Applicants are expected to consider the environmental impact, including water utilisation;
- Contain a calendar clearly defining the key phases of the implementation of the action (i.e. preparation of the specifications of equipment, manufacturing, deployment and operation) and their duration. Proposals should foresee enough time for monitoring and assessment. The monitoring strategy should as a minimum allow to assess compliance with the KPIs of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA 2021-2027 for each of the technologies covered, as mentioned in the expected outcome section.
Size and characteristics of the H2 Valley demonstration
Proposals should:
- Produce at least 500 tons of renewable H2[2] per year;
- Use the hydrogen produced to supply more than one end sector or application in the mobility, industry, and energy sector. The two main applications should each use at least 20% of the whole hydrogen produced.
The volumes of H2 produced and distributed for the different end uses should be consistent with the amount of investment considered.
H2 Markets
Proposals should demonstrate existing and new markets for renewable hydrogen, especially when applications are used in synergies.
Economic growth
Proposals should:
- Demonstrate how different actors, public and private, at European national and regional level will work together, across the entire value chain, to build a dynamic hydrogen ecosystem in the geographical area involved. In particular, proposals should demonstrate how the Hydrogen Valley development will be accompanied by economic growth, skills development and job creation;
- Promote and enable a renewable hydrogen ecosystem in the area, as a new economic vector and as mechanism of creating value for their population;
- Promote the economic growth and focus shifting to new technologies (e.g. reindustrialisation based on hydrogen technologies);
- Demonstrate the expected value added that the development of the Hydrogen Valley will bring to the affected region/s by including the intended approach that would be followed to maximise the value added created.
Impact and replicability
Proposals should:
- Develop a medium-to long-term vision on how the Hydrogen Valley developed is expected to grow;
- Demonstrate the replicability and scalability of the project with the aim of facilitating further deployments of Hydrogen Valleys in other locations in Europe;
- Build on the learnings and create links with previous and ongoing similar projects (e.g. H2020 projects BIG-HIT[3], HEAVENN[4] and GreenHysland[5]);
- Demonstrate how they intend to create links with other H2 Valleys initiatives in Europe (e.g. S3 Hydrogen Valleys Platform[6], HyLand[7] Regions in Germany) but also international (e.g. Mission Innovation 2.0 - Clean Hydrogen Mission[8]);
- Include sufficiently targeted and professional communication activities and campaigns with the aim to increase public acceptance of H2 ecosystems.
Commitment of stakeholders and additional financing/funding
Applicants may consider additional synergies with other Programmes (e.g. European Structural and Investment Funds, Recovery and Resilience Facility, Just Transition Fund, Connecting Europe Facility, Innovation Fund, Modernisation Fund, LIFE, etc.) and/or clustering with other projects within Horizon Europe or funded under other EU, national or regional programmes, or having loans through the EIB or other promotional or commercial banks; such synergies should be reflected in a financing structure and strategy describing the business model, including envisaged sources of co-funding/co-financing and in line with state-aid rules.
Evidence of the Commitment and role of public authorities (Member States, Regions and Cities) and of any other necessary stakeholders at least in the form of Letters of Intent (LOIs) should be provided. The practical implementation of this LOIs will be followed during the Grant Agreement implementation.
This topic is expected to contribute to EU competitiveness and industrial leadership by supporting a European value chain for hydrogen and fuel cell systems and components.
It is expected that Guarantees of origin (GOs) will be used to prove the renewable character of the hydrogen that is produced/used. In this respect consortium may seek out the issuance/purchase and subsequent cancellation of GOs from the relevant Member State issuing body and if that is not yet available the consortium may proceed with the issuance/purchase and cancellation of non-governmental certificates (e.g CertifHy[9]).
Proposals should provide a preliminary draft on ‘hydrogen safety planning and management’ at the project level, which will be further updated during project implementation.
Proposals are expected to contribute towards the activities of Mission Innovation 2.0 - Clean Hydrogen Mission. Cooperation with entities from Clean Hydrogen Mission member countries, which are neither EU Member States nor Horizon Europe Associated countries, is encouraged (see section 2.2.6.8 International Cooperation).
The TRL of the applications in the project should be at least 6 at the beginning of the project while the overall concept should target a TRL 8 at the end of the project.
At least one partner in the consortium must be a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research.
The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million – proposals requesting Clean Hydrogen JU contributions above this amount will not be evaluated.
The conditions related to this topic are provided in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2022 Annual Work Plan and in the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021–2022 which apply mutatis mutandis.
[1]For definition of flagship see section 5.3. of the Clean Hydrogen JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2021 – 2027
[2]As defined in the EU Taxonomy – see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:d84ec73c-c773-11eb-a925-01aa75ed71a1.0021.02/DOC_2&format=PDF, p.57
[6]https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/hydrogen-valleys
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
The page limit of the application is 70 pages.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
Additional condition: For all Innovation Actions the page limit of the applications are 70 pages.
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 eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
Additional eligibility condition: Maximum contribution per topic
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to limit the Clean Hydrogen JU requested contribution mostly for actions performed at high TRL level, including demonstration in real operation environment and with important involvement from industrial stakeholders and/or end users such as public authorities. Such actions are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders. It is of added value that such leverage is shown through the private investment in these specific topics. Therefore, proposals requesting contributions above the amounts specified per each topic below will not be evaluated:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-07 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 9.00 million
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-03 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 30.00 million
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-05 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 15.00 million
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -04-01 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 7.00 million
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-01 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 25.00 million
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-02 - The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe/Hydrogen Europe Research
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to ensure that one partner in the consortium is a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. This concerns topics targeting actions for large-scale demonstrations, flagship projects and strategic research actions, where the industrial and research partners of the Clean Hydrogen JU are considered to play a key role in accelerating the commercialisation of hydrogen technologies by being closely linked to the Clean Hydrogen JU constituency, which could further ensure full alignment with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of the Industry and the SRIA188 of the JU. This approach shall also ensure the continuity of the work performed within projects funded through the H2020 and FP7, by building up on their experience and consolidating the EU value-chain. This applies to the following topics:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-07
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-08
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-10
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-08
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-03
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-05
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -04-01
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-01
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-02
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -07-01
Additional eligibility condition: Participation of African countries
For one topic the following additional eligibility criteria have been introduced to allow African countries to i) participate in proposal, ii) be eligible for funding and iii) ensure a sufficient geographical coverage of the African continent. This concerns the following topic:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -05-5
Manufacturing Readiness Assessment
For some topics a definition of Manufacturing Readiness Level has been introduced in the Annexes of the Annual Work Programme. This is necessary to evaluate the status of the overall manufacturing activities included in the following topics:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-04
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -04-01
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: At least one partner in the consortium must be a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
5. Evaluation and award:
- Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Exemption to evaluation procedure: complementarity of projects
For some topics in order to ensure a balanced portfolio covering complementary approaches, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one additional project that is / are complementary, provided that the applications attain all thresholds
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-03
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-04
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-09
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-10
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-01
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-02
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-04
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -04-04
Seal of Excellence
For two topics the ‘Seal of Excellence’ will be awarded to applications exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this Annual Work Programme but cannot be funded due to lack of budget available to the call. This will further improve the chances of good proposals, otherwise not selected, to find alternative funding in other Union programmes, including those managed by national or regional Managing Authorities. With prior authorisation from the applicant, the Clean Hydrogen JU may share information concerning the proposal and the evaluation with interested financing authorities, subject to the conclusion of confidentiality agreements. In this Annual Work Programme ‘Seal of Excellence’ will be piloted for topics:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-01
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-02
Seals of Excellence will be awarded to applications exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this work programme, but cannot be funded due to lack of budget available to the call.
- 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
In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply:
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), background and results, access rights and rights of use (article 16 and Annex 5 of the Model Grant Agreement (MGA)).
- An additional information obligation has been introduced for topics including standardisation activities: ‘Beneficiaries must, up to 4 years after the end of the action, inform the granting authority if the results could reasonably be expected to contribute to European or international standards’. These concerns the topics below:
Additional information obligation for topics including standardisation activities
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-09
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-04
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -05-02
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -05-03
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -05-04
- For all topics in this Work Programme Clean Hydrogen JU shall have the right to object to transfers of ownership of results, or to grants of an exclusive licence regarding results, if: (a) the beneficiaries which generated the results have received Union funding; (b) the transfer or licensing is to a legal entity established in a non-associated third country; and (c) the transfer or licensing is not in line with Union interests. The grant agreement shall contain a provision in this respect.
Full capitalised costs for purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, mostly large-scale demonstrators or flagship projects specific equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks) can exceptionally be declared as full capitalised costs. This concerns the topics below:
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-07: electrolyser and other hydrogen related equipment essential for implementation of the project, (e.g. compression of hydrogen, storage and any essential end-use technology)
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-08: electrolyser, its BoP and any other hydrogen related equipment essential for the implementation of the project (e.g. hydrogen storage)
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -01-10: electrolyser, its BOP and any other hydrogen related equipment essential for implementation of the project (e.g. offshore infrastructure, renewable electricity supply infrastructure, storages, pipelines and other auxiliaries required to convey and utilise the hydrogen)
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -02-08: compression prototype/s and related components
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-03: trucks, fuel cell system, on-board hydrogen storage and other components needed in a hydrogen truck
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -03-05: vessels, fuel cell system, on-board hydrogen storage and other components needed in a hydrogen fuel cell hydrogen vessel
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -04-01: manufacturing equipment and tooling
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-01: hydrogen production plant, distribution and storage infrastructure and hydrogen end-uses
- HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022 -06-02: hydrogen production plant, distribution and storage infrastructure and hydrogen end-uses
Purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets used for the action must be declared as depreciation costs. However, for the following equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks): hydrogen production plant, distribution and storage infrastructure and hydrogen end-uses, costs may exceptionally be declared as full capitalised costs
Specific conditions
7. Specific conditions: described in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2022 Annual Work Plan
Documents
CALL UPDATE: FLASH CALL INFO
Call documents:
Application form — As well available in the Submission System from March 31st 2022
- Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 RIA, IA)
- Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 CSA)
Evaluation forms
- Evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Model Grant Agreement (MGA)
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2022 (AWP 2022)
- AWP 2022
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2021–2022 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
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