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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal must demonstrate a real-world regional value chain feeding upgraded biogenic residues into an operational 10–30 MWe high-efficiency CHP plant, achieving TRL 7 while strictly adhering to Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/III) sustainability and cascading use principles. Crucially, scoring will be maximised by integrating a concrete business case supporting Ukrainian energy resilience/reconstruction alongside robust Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) integration addressing local economic impact and soil/biodiversity preservation.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Demonstration of a viable regional value chain for the use of locally to regionally sourced sustainable and cheap solid biofuel from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive in high efficiency CHP plants (between 10 MWe and 30 MWe) for continuous, cost-effective and low emission operation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Proposals are expected to cover long-term scenarios for base load operation within the energy system network ensuring socio-economic and environmental sustainability and in particular the exclusion of negative impacts on other regional bio-based value chains and biomass uses in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive (also on cascading use), biodiversity, water balance, air quality and soil carbon stocks and other bioeconomy sectors which should be assessed by a comprehensive life cycle analysis. For this purpose, the extraction of residues should respect locally defined retention thresholds for deadwood extraction and exclude negative impacts on soil quality and soil carbon. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Biomass fuels from residues and wastes are expected to be the primary feedstock of the high-efficiency CHP plant to minimise possible local ecosystem interferences, produced with innovative preprocessing and upgrading technologies and advanced supply chains addressing operational, economic, logistical and harvest-location specific challenges. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Proposals should foresee at least one regional value chain demonstration including use of the solid biofuel with verified quality and occurring GHG and air-pollutant reduction in an operational high efficiency CHP plant, ensuring adequate involvement of feedstock providers (e.g. farmers, foresters, municipalities). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Demonstrate ways for future efficient, cost-effective, robust, resilient and low pollution CHP plants (including retrofitting and excluding co-firing with fossil fuels) in a local industrial context. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Develop strong business cases and exploitation strategies, envisaging collaboration with suitable networks like bioenergy clusters, including preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment indicating possible funding sources (in particular the Innovation Fund), and estimating GHG/air pollutant emissions reduction potential. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Include at least one relevant local economic business case outlining local value and supply chains and expected number of local jobs; proposals are encouraged to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by covering regional value chains in Ukraine and/or Ukrainian beneficiaries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8Integrate effective contributions of SSH disciplines and experts to enhance synergies for socioeconomic sustainability, including a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach to inform inclusive solutions and monitor impacts. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1The demonstration of regional value chains for the use of locally to regionally sourced sustainable and cheap solid biofuel from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive in high efficiency CHP plant creates opportunities for SMs, regional value generation and European knowledge advancement and international competitiveness in the sector. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Provide flexible renewable power and heat to local industries for their processes and allow for high penetration of renewables in the energy system by ensuring sustainable bioenergy base load capacity. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Provide replicable solutions, where bioeconomy stakeholders can benefit from the knowledge generated for the development of their strategies aligned with energy and environmental policy objectives and which can contribute to the objective of decreasing the EU’s and Ukraine`s dependence on fossil fuels and increasing energy security. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Regulatory and permitting authorities as well as investors and important actors of the value chain are in a better position to assess socio-economic and environmental aspects of the value chain, in particular on circularity, industrial resilience biodiversity and soil carbon. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Involvement of feedstock providers (farmers, foresters, municipalities)Proposals should ensure adequate involvement of feedstock providers (e.g. farmers, foresters, municipalities) to strengthen their position in the value chains relevant for this topic. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Support for reconstruction of Ukraine and Ukrainian regional value chainsProjects are encouraged to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by covering regional value chains in Ukraine and/or Ukrainian beneficiaries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts and institutions to examine how synergies can enhance socioeconomic sustainability. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Gender-sensitive and intersectional approachA gender-sensitive and intersectional approach should inform inclusive solutions in solid biofuel supply and CHP by identifying specific needs and monitoring impacts on diverse groups. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA) and retention thresholdsLong-term operation must ensure environmental sustainability assessed by a comprehensive life cycle analysis, respecting locally defined retention thresholds for deadwood extraction and avoiding negative impacts on soil carbon, biodiversity, and air quality. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Synergies with bioenergy clusters and Innovation FundExploitation strategies should envisage collaboration with networks like bioenergy clusters, identify potential future funding sources such as the Innovation Fund, and are encouraged to use the Innovation Fund GHG reduction estimation methodology. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7Mandatory use of Galileo/EGNOS and Copernicus for earth observation/positioningIf projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Energy producers have access to efficient and competitive European renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies with a solid knowledge base and are able to deploy them to enhance the EU’s energy security and reach its climate neutrality objectives, 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. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Technology providers have access to European, competitive, resilient, reliable, sustainable, and affordable value chains of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, and with strong export potential to supply both the EU internal and global markets. They benefit also from circular renewable energy technologies that are safe and sustainable by design with reduced and diversified external dependence on critical raw materials. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Economic sectors benefit from better integration of renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions that are, among others, competitive, cost-effective, efficient, flexible, reliable, and sustainable. Such integration is facilitated through digitalisation and integration of artificial intelligence of renewable energy technologies that provide network stability and reliability. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4European industries benefit from a reinforced export potential of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international partnerships, and become more competitive in innovative renewable energy technologies in Europe and globally. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5European researchers benefit from a stronger community and from a reinforced scientific basis on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, also through international collaborations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI6European citizens have access to an energy market that is fair and equitable, more resilient, uses all different types of local renewable energy resources, and is less dependent on fossil fuels imports. Citizens experience less fuel and energy poverty, and also benefit from new employment and upskilling opportunities. Local communities benefit from a more decentralized, affordable, and secure energy system and from multiple uses of land and water. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI7R&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 work better for actors and supply more reliable, resilient and secure energy – even under increasingly more frequent extreme climate events. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI8The solutions developed will contribute to increase flexibility and grid hosting capacity for renewables through optimizing cross sector integration and grid scale storage as well as cover off-grid situations. They will improve the preparedness of the electricity system to support the EU's binding target for 2030 of minimum of 42.5% renewables in the gross final energy consumption (with the aspiration to reach 45%), and full decarbonisation by 2050. They will enable further electrification of demand and will enhance the competitiveness of the European value chain , reduce pressure on resources (also by making technologies ‘circular by design’) and decrease dependencies. Such solutions would also enable a better EU resilience to climate risks. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI9The solutions will improve consumer awareness and engagement in the energy transition, via innovative offers and services (e.g. demand response, energy communities) and will target different types of consumers, including “hard to reach” population groups (such as energy poor or low-income households). This will result in increased trust in, and uptake of the new products and services entering the energy system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI10Accelerated deployment of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) as a CO2 emission mitigation option in electricity generation and/or in industry applications, as well as carbon dioxide removal for negative emissions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1renewable energy directiveThe Renewable Energy Directive (RED II / RED III) establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources across the EU. It sets mandatory national and EU-wide targets for renewable energy consumption and enforces robust sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biomass fuels. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2strategic energy technology plan (set plan)The Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan is the European Union's key policy initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon energy technologies. It coordinates national research and innovation agendas across Member States to improve performance and lower costs in clean energy sectors, including bioenergy and renewable heating and cooling. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
Exclusion of entities established in China
Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
A proposal will be rejected at the eligibility check if it includes any legal entity established in China. This geographic exclusion applies to all actions under this destination, meaning consortium builders must strictly vet all partners and affiliated entities during the formation phase.
Source: Eligibility rules
Evaluators will severely penalize proposals that do not target an operational high-efficiency CHP plant strictly within the 10 to 30 MWe capacity range. Furthermore, the demonstration must rely entirely on biomass fuels from residues and wastes, as co-firing with fossil fuels is explicitly excluded from the scope.
Source: Scope
To secure high scores, the proposal must include a comprehensive life cycle analysis (LCA) that proves zero negative impact on competing bioeconomy sectors. Specifically, reviewers will scrutinize the methodology for ensuring biomass extraction respects locally defined retention thresholds for deadwood and preserves soil carbon stocks.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
While framed as an encouragement in the scope, evaluators will specifically check for concrete involvement or replicability in Ukraine when assessing the exploitation plan. Integrating Ukrainian beneficiaries or mapping regional value chains directly to Ukraine's energy reconstruction will provide a decisive scoring advantage.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
The call explicitly requires the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to assess local employment, community acceptance, and gender-sensitive solutions. A consortium that lacks dedicated SSH experts and institutions will fail to meet the socio-economic sustainability objectives and lose critical points.
Source: Scope
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
Exclusion of entities established in China
Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
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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.
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.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
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)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. 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
Evaluators will primarily scrutinise whether the project demonstrates genuine operational deployment in an existing high-efficiency CHP facility (10–30 MWe) without fossil co-firing, verified emissions reductions, and solid fuel quality compliance. Reviewers will check for strict exclusion of negative impacts on deadwood retention, soil carbon, and competing bioeconomy sectors via a comprehensive LCA. Special attention will be paid to the credibility of the exploitation plan, direct engagement of feedstock suppliers (farmers/foresters), and concrete involvement or replicability in Ukraine.
TRL 4 → 7
Demonstration of a viable regional value chain for the use of locally to regionally sourced sustainable and cheap solid biofuel from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive in high efficiency CHP plants (between 10 MWe and 30 MWe) for continuous, cost-effective and low emission operation.
Proposals are expected to cover long-term scenarios for base load operation within the energy system network ensuring socio-economic and environmental sustainability and in particular the exclusion of negative impacts on other regional bio-based value chains and biomass uses in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive (also on cascading use), biodiversity, water balance, air quality and soil carbon stocks and other bioeconomy sectors which should be assessed by a comprehensive life cycle analysis. For this purpose, the extraction of residues should respect locally defined retention thresholds for deadwood extraction and exclude negative impacts on soil quality and soil carbon.
Biomass fuels from residues and wastes are expected to be the primary feedstock of the high-efficiency CHP plant to minimise possible local ecosystem interferences, produced with innovative preprocessing and upgrading technologies and advanced supply chains addressing operational, economic, logistical and harvest-location specific challenges.
Proposals should foresee at least one regional value chain demonstration including use of the solid biofuel with verified quality and occurring GHG and air-pollutant reduction in an operational high efficiency CHP plant, ensuring adequate involvement of feedstock providers (e.g. farmers, foresters, municipalities).
Demonstrate ways for future efficient, cost-effective, robust, resilient and low pollution CHP plants (including retrofitting and excluding co-firing with fossil fuels) in a local industrial context.
Develop strong business cases and exploitation strategies, envisaging collaboration with suitable networks like bioenergy clusters, including preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment indicating possible funding sources (in particular the Innovation Fund), and estimating GHG/air pollutant emissions reduction potential.
Include at least one relevant local economic business case outlining local value and supply chains and expected number of local jobs; proposals are encouraged to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by covering regional value chains in Ukraine and/or Ukrainian beneficiaries.
Integrate effective contributions of SSH disciplines and experts to enhance synergies for socioeconomic sustainability, including a gender-sensitive and intersectional approach to inform inclusive solutions and monitor impacts.
The demonstration of regional value chains for the use of locally to regionally sourced sustainable and cheap solid biofuel from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes in line with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive in high efficiency CHP plant creates opportunities for SMs, regional value generation and European knowledge advancement and international competitiveness in the sector.
Provide flexible renewable power and heat to local industries for their processes and allow for high penetration of renewables in the energy system by ensuring sustainable bioenergy base load capacity.
Provide replicable solutions, where bioeconomy stakeholders can benefit from the knowledge generated for the development of their strategies aligned with energy and environmental policy objectives and which can contribute to the objective of decreasing the EU’s and Ukraine`s dependence on fossil fuels and increasing energy security.
Regulatory and permitting authorities as well as investors and important actors of the value chain are in a better position to assess socio-economic and environmental aspects of the value chain, in particular on circularity, industrial resilience biodiversity and soil carbon.
Energy producers have access to efficient and competitive European renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies with a solid knowledge base and are able to deploy them to enhance the EU’s energy security and reach its climate neutrality objectives, 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, competitive, resilient, reliable, sustainable, and affordable value chains of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, and with strong export potential to supply both the EU internal and global markets. They benefit also from circular renewable energy technologies that are safe and sustainable by design with reduced and diversified external dependence on critical raw materials.
Economic sectors benefit from better integration of renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions that are, among others, competitive, cost-effective, efficient, flexible, reliable, and sustainable. Such integration is facilitated through digitalisation and integration of artificial intelligence of renewable energy technologies that provide network stability and reliability.
European industries benefit from a reinforced export potential of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international partnerships, and become more competitive in innovative renewable energy technologies in Europe and globally.
European researchers benefit from a stronger community and from a reinforced scientific basis on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, also through international collaborations.
European citizens have access to an energy market that is fair and equitable, more resilient, uses all different types of local renewable energy resources, and is less dependent on fossil fuels imports. Citizens experience less fuel and energy poverty, and also benefit from new employment and upskilling opportunities. Local communities benefit from a more decentralized, affordable, and secure energy system and from multiple uses of land and water.
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 work better for actors and supply more reliable, resilient and secure energy – even under increasingly more frequent extreme climate events.
The solutions developed will contribute to increase flexibility and grid hosting capacity for renewables through optimizing cross sector integration and grid scale storage as well as cover off-grid situations. They will improve the preparedness of the electricity system to support the EU's binding target for 2030 of minimum of 42.5% renewables in the gross final energy consumption (with the aspiration to reach 45%), and full decarbonisation by 2050. They will enable further electrification of demand and will enhance the competitiveness of the European value chain , reduce pressure on resources (also by making technologies ‘circular by design’) and decrease dependencies. Such solutions would also enable a better EU resilience to climate risks.
The solutions will improve consumer awareness and engagement in the energy transition, via innovative offers and services (e.g. demand response, energy communities) and will target different types of consumers, including “hard to reach” population groups (such as energy poor or low-income households). This will result in increased trust in, and uptake of the new products and services entering the energy system.
Accelerated deployment of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) as a CO2 emission mitigation option in electricity generation and/or in industry applications, as well as carbon dioxide removal for negative emissions.
Renewable Energy Directive
highThe Renewable Energy Directive (RED II / RED III) establishes a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources across the EU. It sets mandatory national and EU-wide targets for renewable energy consumption and enforces robust sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biomass fuels.
Evaluators expect clear proof that the proposed solid biomass supply chain strictly complies with EU sustainability and greenhouse gas savings criteria outlined in the Renewable Energy Directive. Proposals should quantify GHG savings relative to fossil baselines and demonstrate that feedstock sourcing adheres to land-use, biodiversity, and cascading principles.
Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan)
highThe Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan is the European Union's key policy initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon energy technologies. It coordinates national research and innovation agendas across Member States to improve performance and lower costs in clean energy sectors, including bioenergy and renewable heating and cooling.
Evaluators look for direct alignment with the SET Plan's research and innovation targets for bioenergy and combined heat and power (CHP). This includes demonstrating competitive conversion efficiencies, reduced capital and operational costs, and integration into local and regional low-carbon energy systems.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
mediumThe UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.' Adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, they address global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
Proposals should clearly articulate which specific SDGs their project contributes to and how. This involves demonstrating a tangible impact on sustainable development, whether through environmental, social, or economic dimensions, and aligning with the EU's commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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