Details
- Funding programme or initiative
- Innovation Fund (INNOVFUND)
- Country
- Worldwide
- Lighthouse
- Atlantic and Arctic basinMediterranean Sea basinBaltic and North Sea basinDanube River basin
- Deadline date
- 9 April 2024, 17:00 CEST
- Status
- Closed
- Publication date
- 23 November 2023
- Mission Objectives
- 3. Carbon Neutral and Circular Blue Economy
Description
Objectives
The funding program aims to support highly innovative technologies crucial for deep decarbonization, aligning with the goal of achieving climate neutrality. The activities eligible for funding focus on pilot projects aimed at validating, testing, and optimizing innovative decarbonization solutions across various sectors, including those listed in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive. This encompasses environmentally safe carbon capture and utilization (CCU), renewable energy installations (e.g., offshore wind power, ocean energy), energy storage, and CO2 storage solutions.
These pilot projects are expected to address technical risks associated with innovative technologies, optimizing operational parameters, and improving final product characteristics. While not anticipated to reach large-scale demonstration or commercial production, these projects aim to validate innovative decarbonization or net carbon removal technologies in an operational environment within a limited timeframe (typically 3 to 5 years). Successful projects are expected to progress toward large-scale demonstration or first-of-a-kind commercial production.
By supporting the validation and optimisation of these innovative technologies, the programme will indirectly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions associated with maritime activities, in line with efforts to promote sustainable practices in ocean-related sectors. In addition, advances in energy storage solutions and carbon capture technologies could have applications in maritime transport and offshore industries, contributing to reducing emissions and promoting sustainable practices in ocean-related activities.
Eligibility
Detailed information on eligible applicants can be found in the call document.
Projects must be located in EU Member States or EEA countries (i.e. Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein). Project location in EEA countries is currently subject to conditions, and additional details can be found in the call document.
For projects in the maritime sector:
If the projects concern investments in vessels, these vessels must call at ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country on a regular basis (at least 30% of their annual port calls), or carry out service or support activities in such ports.
If the projects concern investments in port infrastructure (e.g. renewable alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure in ports, including container ports), the ports must be under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or an EEA country.
Budget
Available budget: EUR 200 000 000
Project budgets (maximum grant amount) must be calculated based on the relevant costs, using the relevant cost calculator provided and in accordance with the conditions set out in the guidelines on the relevant cost methodology. The maximum grant amount may not exceed 60% of the relevant costs. Only projects with a total capital expenditure as indicated below will be eligible under this call for proposals.
The maximum amount of funding from the Innovation Fund for a single project under this theme is limited to EUR 40 million.
Duration
Duration may vary. Please see here for details.
Related links
Contact points
Contact the INNOVFUND helpdesk for questions specifically related to the call documentation, application and evaluation process.
