Innovative co-electrolysis systems and integration with downstream processes
HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-05
- Programme
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- January 30, 2025
- Deadline
- April 23, 2025
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €184,500,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €1,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €1,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-05HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025Hydrogen
Description
Co-electrolysis technology has a relevant impact on hydrocarbon synthetic production processes (e.g. Fisher-Tropsch, ethylene and methanol routes), which is gaining continuous interest for the production of e-fuels (e.g. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), e-diesel, e-methane, etc) and other chemicals relevant for the chemical industry. With co-electrolysis carbon dioxide and steam are converted into syngas which is subsequently utilised in the downstream chemical processes to produce synthetic fuels or molecules of interest thereby enhancing overall energy efficiency. The primary benefit of the co-electrolysis lies in the ability to produce high-quality syngas in a single step, eliminating the need for extra H2/CO2 conversion processes.
Previous EU funded projects (Eco[1], HELMETH[2], SOPHIA[3], ELECTRA[4], SElySOs[5], eCOCO2[6], SUN2CHEM[7]) have already assessed the feasibility of co-electrolysis and laid the groundwork for further improvements. However, heat integration between co-electrolysis systems and downstream processes can improve the overall efficiency of production with lower OPEX and flexible operation towards synthetic chemicals production, an aspect which has not been covered by those projects.
Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Efficiency improvement via an optimised system integrating co-electrolyser and downstream reactor, enhancing the efficiency of the power to final chemical process by reducing heat losses and recovering heat produced in the synthesis phase;
- Optimised resource utilisation via integration with downstream processes, enabling the efficient utilisation of resources, such as waste heat or by-products, leading to overall process optimisation and reduced resource wastage;
- Durability Improvement via an optimised operational strategy to prevent coke formation in the cells, stacks, stack modules and co-electrolyser system;
- Cost reduction by optimising the production process and minimising energy consumption with integrated systems helping in reducing production and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) costs, making the overall process more economically viable;
- Environmental benefits via an integrated system contributing to reducing the environmental, economic and social impacts of synthetic chemical production, resulting in high reduction potential of greenhouse gas emissions, promoting circularity of materials and components, and, in general, improving the overall environmental impact of the process (in particular when associated with a reduction of the critical raw materials content);
- Product diversification via integration with downstream processes, facilitating the production of a wider range of products and enabling diversification and opening up new market opportunities.
Overall, the expected outcomes of integrating innovative co-electrolysis systems with downstream processes encompass improvements in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, technological advancement, and market competitiveness.
Project results are expected to contribute to the following objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA:
- Improve cell design/materials for an increased lifetime and high performance, and increase cell/stack robustness through improved thermal and process-flow management;
- Develop new stack and balance of plant (BoP) designs;
- Consider innovative system designs and improved balance of plant components to reduce cost;
Furthermore, project results are expected to contribute to the following KPIs, targeted at co-electrolyser scale, specific for three high temperature co-electrolysis technologies: Oxide and Proton conductive Solid Oxide electrolysers (SOEL, PCCEL) and Molten Carbonate Electrolyser (MCE):
- Oxide conductive Solid Oxide electrolysers (SOEL)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.9 kWe/ kWLHV
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.8 %/1000h @1A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
- Proton Conductive Ceramic electrolysers (PCCEL)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.9 kWe/ kWLHV
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.8 %/1000h @0.75A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
- Molten Carbonate electrolysers (MCE)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.93 kWe/ kWLHV
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.5 %/1000h @0.5A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
KPIs are defined for the main high temperature co-electrolysis techniques, derived from the SRIA and from results of previous EU funded projects.
Scope:Proposals should aim to accelerate the development of the co-electrolysis technology and its integration into real chemical synthesis process by proving the concept and the overall efficiency of the coupling between the co-electrolyser and the downstream process, mainly the catalytic reactor for the chemical synthesis. They should also contribute to resolving additional technological challenges on low-TRL level (cell/stack/stack module technology) to improve the stack operations for direct downstream process integration (downstream gas purity and composition, pressurised conditions) and the core technology impacting more drastically the lifetime (hence OPEX cost contribution) compared to steam electrolysis.
The project should cover the following elements:
- Adapt core technology and cell design to increase the robustness in the identified operating conditions and gas composition;
- Screening at cell or short-stack level different catalysts and operational parameters to achieve the required H2/CO ratio for further downstream processing including pressure, temperature, reactant purity. Investigation should encompass not only performances but also prevention of coke formation in the stack, stack module, system and afterwards;
- Assessing the optimal operating conditions of the co-electrolyser and of the downstream process at the scale of a short stack over durations above 3000h, with the aim of ensuring an optimised coupling of the two technologies, considering:
- heat recovery from the fuel synthesis process in the co-electrolysis unit (steam generation, gas preheating, etc.);
- the most effective strategy for cleaning up produced syngas, if necessary;
- Design integrated co-electrolyser and downstream reactor with ad hoc BoP to increase global efficiency and promote syngas production stability, supported by simulation tools and experimental validation. The study should analyse the effects of transient and off-design operation of the system, encompassing both startup and shutdown processes. Technological and economical impacts of recirculation of separated streams such as water (steam) and carbon dioxide have to be considered;
- Demonstrating the coupling at a relevant scale (size of the co-electrolyser >15 kW) between the co-electrolyser and the downstream reactor and evaluate its performance and durability over 2000 h minimum;
- Conducting a techno-economic and life cycle impacts analysis and a preliminary study of safety aspects of the integrated system.
Costs related to downstream process unit design and development will not be funded and the coupling should be performed in a location where such a reactor is available at the adequate size for a good matching with the co-electrolyser. An electrolyser manufacturer should be involved in the consortium for this topic. Participation of industrial partners in the integration downstream and valorisation of the co-electrolysis product is expected.
For activities developing test protocols and procedures for the performance and durability assessment of electrolysers and fuel cell components proposals should foresee a collaboration mechanism with JRC[8] (see section 2.2.4.3 "Collaboration with JRC"), in order to support EU-wide harmonisation. Test activities should adopt the already published EU harmonised testing protocols[9] to benchmark performance and quantify progress at programme level.
For additional elements applicable to all topics please refer to section 2.2.3.2
Activities are expected to start at TRL 3 and achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.
The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum EUR 4.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.
The conditions related to this topic are provided in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2025 Annual Work Plan and in the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023–2025 which apply mutatis mutandis.
[1] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/699892
[2] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/621210
[3] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/621173
[4] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/621244
[5] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/671481
[6] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/838077
[7] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/884444
[8] https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/knowledge-management/collaboration-jrc-0_en
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.
Page limit for Innovation Actions: 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 operational 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-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 5.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 20.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 9.00 million
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research
For the topics listed below, 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 SRIA 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. In the Call 2025 this applies to: demonstration of efficient electrolysis coupling with variable renewable electricity and/or heat integration, demonstration of innovative hydrogen and solid carbon production from renewable gases/biogenic waste processes, demonstration of scalable ammonia cracking technology, and demonstration of stationary fuel cells in renewable energy communities. This will also apply to the Hydrogen Valley (flagship) topics as they are considered of strategic importance for the European Union ambitions to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025. For the Hydrogen Valleys topics a large amount of co-investment/cofunding of project participants/beneficiaries including national and regional programmes is expected.
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
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.
STEP (Sovereignty) Seal
For the topics below topics the STEP Seal (so called “Sovereignty Seal” under the STEP Regulation) will be awarded to proposals exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this Annual Work Programme. The STEP Seal is a label, which aims to increase the visibility of quality projects available for funding and help attract alternative and cumulative funding for quality projects, and simultaneously to provide a potential project pipeline for regional and national programmes
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
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.
In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply:
1. Lump Sum
This year’s call for proposals will take the form of lump sums 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).
Lump sums will be used across all topics in the Call 2025.
2. 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-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
3. Subcontracting
For all topics: an additional obligation regarding subcontracting has been introduced, namely that subcontracted work may only be performed in target countries set out in the call conditions.
The beneficiaries must ensure that the subcontracted work is performed in the countries set out in the call conditions.
The target countries are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries.
4. 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:
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-01
Specific conditions
described in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2025 Annual Work Programme
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 RIA, IA)
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 CSA)
Evaluation form templates
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2025 (AWP 2025)
- AWP 2025
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Lump Sums Guidance
- Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
- Comprehensive information on lump sum funding in Horizon Europe
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
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.
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
CALL UPDATE:
An overview of the evaluation results for the call HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025 is now available. More information can be found in this document: FLASH EVALUATION RESULTS
CALL UPDATE: PROPOSAL NUMBERS
Call HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025 has closed on the 23/04/2025.
212 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
RENEWABLE HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-01: 21 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-02: 10 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-03: 11 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04: 9 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-05: 8 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06: 14 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-07: 15 proposals
HYDROGEN STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-01: 9 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-02: 10 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03: 7 proposals
HYDROGEN END USES: TRANSPORT APPLICATIONS
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-03-01: 9 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-03-02: 7 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-03-03: 7 proposals
HYDROGEN END USES: CLEAN HEAT AND POWER
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01: 19 proposals
CROSS-CUTTING
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-05-01: 7 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-05-02: 8 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-05-03: 6 proposals
HYDROGEN VALLEYS
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01: 16 proposals
-HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02: 19 proposals
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in August 2025.
Notice to Applicants (15/04/2025)
Please note that we will no longer be accepting questions regarding the current call for proposals HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to refer to the published documentation for any remaining clarifications.
Errata Notice - Topic HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-05
The correct text for topic HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-05 stipulates:
"Furthermore, project results are expected to contribute to the following KPIs, targeted at co-electrolyser scale, specific for three high temperature co-electrolysis technologies: Oxide and Proton conductive Solid Oxide electrolysers (SOEL, PCCEL) and Molten Carbonate Electrolyser (MCE):
Oxide conductive Solid Oxide electrolysers (SOEL)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.9 kWLHV /kWe
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.8 %/1000h @1A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
Proton Conductive Ceramic electrolysers (PCCEL)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.9 kWLHV/ kWe
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.8 %/1000h @0.75A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
Molten Carbonate electrolysers (MCE)
- Power to syngas efficiency: 0.93 kWLHV/ kWe
- Degradation in operating conditions: 0.5 %/1000h @0.5A/cm²
- Unit cost: 500 €/kW
KPIs are defined for the main high temperature co-electrolysis techniques, derived from the SRIA and from results of previous EU funded projects."
Errata Notice – Topic Conditions
We appreciate your attention to this information. Please be advised that the Topic Conditions are provided below, as they were not displayed correctly under each topic. These conditions apply to all topics across the entire call.
We kindly ask you to refer to the information below and in the AWP2025 to ensure compliance with the applicable requirements.
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.
Page limit for Innovation Actions: 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 operational 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-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 6.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 5.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 20.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 9.00 million
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research
For the topics listed below, 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 SRIA 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. In the Call 2025 this applies to: demonstration of efficient electrolysis coupling with variable renewable electricity and/or heat integration, demonstration of innovative hydrogen and solid carbon production from renewable gases/biogenic waste processes, demonstration of scalable ammonia cracking technology, and demonstration of stationary fuel cells in renewable energy communities. This will also apply to the Hydrogen Valley (flagship) topics as they are considered of strategic importance for the European Union ambitions to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025. For the Hydrogen Valleys topics a large amount of co-investment/cofunding of project participants/beneficiaries including national and regional programmes is expected.
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
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.
STEP (Sovereignty) Seal
For the topics below topics the STEP Seal (so called “Sovereignty Seal” under the STEP Regulation) will be awarded to proposals exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this Annual Work Programme. The STEP Seal is a label, which aims to increase the visibility of quality projects available for funding and help attract alternative and cumulative funding for quality projects, and simultaneously to provide a potential project pipeline for regional and national programmes
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
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.
In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply:
1. Lump Sum
This year’s call for proposals will take the form of lump sums 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).
Lump sums will be used across all topics in the Call 2025.
2. 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-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-04
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02
3. Subcontracting
For all topics: an additional obligation regarding subcontracting has been introduced, namely that subcontracted work may only be performed in target countries set out in the call conditions.
The beneficiaries must ensure that the subcontracted work is performed in the countries set out in the call conditions.
The target countries are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries.
4. 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:
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-02-01
Specific conditions
Documents
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 RIA, IA)
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 CSA)
Evaluation form templates
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2025 (AWP 2025)
- AWP 2025
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)
Lump Sums Guidance
- Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
- Comprehensive information on lump sum funding in Horizon Europe
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
The excel detailed budget table available in the submission system “Download Part B templates” section had outdated values for the SME owner unit cost category.
Today, the issue has been rectified and the template available is the correct version, containing up-to-date values for the SME owner unit cost category.
Please make sure you download and use the correct budget table in your submission.
For the applicants that have already submitted their proposals, please be aware that the system still allows you to edit and re-submit your proposal using the updated excel template.
In section "Get support" the Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025 has been updated
In section "Get support" the Specific FAQ document from call HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025 has been updated