Clean Tech, Batteries, Hydrogen: EU calls to submit projects with a budget of 4.6 billion euros

Brussels – Promoting innovative decarbonization technologies in Europe, producing electric vehicle battery cells, and renewable hydrogen in the European Economic Area (EEA): these are the fields in which the European Commission launched an auction and two calls for proposals totaling 4.6 billion euros.

The two new calls for proposals to promote net-zero emission technologies and battery cell production for electric vehicles across Europe have a budget of €3.4 billion. The launch of the European Hydrogen Bank’s second auction to accelerate renewable hydrogen production in the EEA has a budget of €1.2 billion from EU funds, plus over €700 million from three member states. Both the calls for proposals and the auction are funded by the Innovation Fund, using revenues from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

“All three calls include new resilience criteria to boost European industry. The batteries call and hydrogen bank auction will also include specific resilience criteria to protect Europe against dependency on a single supplier,” the Commission said. “The new resilience criteria for hydrogen and batteries will boost Europe’s industrial leadership and competitiveness while enhancing the EU’s strategic autonomy,” said Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Executive Vice President for a Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition.

The general call for proposals for net-zero-emission technologies with a value of €2.4 billion (Call IF24) supports decarbonization projects of different scales, as well as projects focused on the manufacturing of components for renewable energy, energy storage, heat pumps, and hydrogen production. Projects will be assessed based on their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, degree of innovation, project maturity, replicability, and cost efficiency.

For the first time, there is a €1 billion call for the production of electric vehicle battery cells (IF24Battery) to support projects that can produce innovative electric vehicle battery cells or implement innovative manufacturing techniques, processes, and technologies.

In addition, the Commission has launched the second auction under the European Hydrogen Bank, through the Innovation Fund (IF24 Auction), which will allocate €1.2 billion (€400 million compared to the first IF23 Auction) from ETS proceeds. In detail, 1 billion of the budget will support renewable hydrogen production regardless of the sector in which it will be consumed, and 200 million euros in hydrogen production in projects with off-takers in the maritime industry.

There is time until 5 p.m. April 24, 2025, to apply for both Innovation Fund calls through the EU Funding and Procurement Portal. The Info Day for interested parties will be on December 17-18, 2024. As for the renewable hydrogen auction, there is time until February 20, 2025, to apply through the EU funding and procurement portal. “In preparation for the application, project proponents are strongly advised to consult the call documents and the ‘Questions and Answers’ section of the portal,” the EU executive explained.