Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero Technologies – General decarbonisation – Small-Scale Projects

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Innovation Fund (2021-2027)

Programme Description

The Innovation Fund program that helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Large-scale” projects are projects with a capital expenditure of over € 7.5 million.

“Small scale” projects are projects with a total capital cost of less than € 7.5 million.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

INNOVFUND-2023-NZT-GENERAL-SSP

Call

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero Technologies – General decarbonisation – Small-Scale Projects

Summary

The following activities can be funded under these topics:

  • activities supporting innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in sectors listed in Annex I and Annex III to the EU ETS Directive 2003/8720, including environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that contributes substantially to mitigating climate change, in particular for unavoidable process emissions, as well as products substituting carbon intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive
  • activities helping stimulate the construction and operation of projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS)
  • activities helping the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy and energy storage technologies.

Detailed Call Description

The following activities can be funded under these topics:

  • activities supporting innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in sectors listed in Annex I and Annex III to the EU ETS Directive 2003/8720, including environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that contributes substantially to mitigating climate change, in particular for unavoidable process emissions, as well as products substituting carbon intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive
  • activities helping stimulate the construction and operation of projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS)
  • activities helping the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy and energy storage technologies.

Carbon capture and utilisation can be funded if the capture of CO2 occurs within one of the activities listed in Annex I of the EU ETS Directive, or if the utilisation of CO2 results in products substituting carbon-intensive ones from the sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive, even if carbon is captured outside the activities of Annex I.
If the project involves building oversized infrastructure, i.e. can serve other companies, fair and open access for other operators needs to be ensured.

Hydrogen applications (i.e. hydrogen use as an energy carrier, reducing agent, or feedstock) in industry and hydrogen production projects with a demonstrated sufficient degree of innovation can be funded under these topics. We strongly encourage project installing and operating mature electrolyser technologies without additional relevant innovation in the use of the produced hydrogen to apply to the Innovation Fund auction for RFNBO Hydrogen.

In the maritime and aviation transport sectors, support can be provided to, e.g. breakthrough innovative technologies, including energy efficiency, sustainable alternative fuels, electrification, as well as zero-emission propulsion technologies, such as wind technologies, including innovative infrastructure in the maritime sector, notably for EU container transshipment ports.

Call Total Budget

€200.000.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The grant will be a lump sum grant. This means that it will reimburse a fixed amount, based on a lump sum. The amount will be fixed by the granting authority on the basis of the relevant costs of the project calculated in accordance with the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology, and a fixed funding rate of 60% (or lower requested grant amount, if any).

The project must:

  • reach financial close within four years after grant signature
  • operate at least:
    • for all topics except INNOVFUND-2023-NZT-GENERAL-SSP: 5 years after entry into operation
    • for INNOVFUND-2023-NZT-GENERAL-SSP: 3 years after entry into operation

Only projects with a total capital expenditure as indicated below will be eligible under this call:

  • INNOVFUND-2023-NZT-GENERAL-SSP: above €2.500.000 and up to €20.000.000

Thematic Categories

  • Energy
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Public Administration
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation
  • Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness

Eligibility for Participation

  • International Organisations
  • Investment Funds
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries: any country in the world.

Geographic location (target countries)
Projects must be located in EU Member States or EEA countries (i.e. Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein).
Projects may also be located in Northern Ireland on the condition that they concern the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity.

Eligible activities – The following activities are not considered as eligible for funding under this call:

  • Projects whose focus is on services, including software, mainly addressing the efficiency in Annex I products use.
  • Ship or plane building or refurbishment outside of the EU.

Projects must comply with EU policy interests and priorities (such as environment, social, security, industrial and trade policy, etc).

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Call Opening Date

23/11/2023

Call Closing Date

09/04/2024

National Contact Point(s)

Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

Mrs. Maria Loizou
28th of October Avenue 20-22
2414 Engomi, Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22408955
Emailmloizou@environment.moa.gov.cy
Websitewww.moa.gov.cy

Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Ms. Elena Poulli
29 Vyronos Avenue
1096 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22691921
Email: epoulli@research.org.cyepoulli@dmrid.gov.cy
Website: www.dmrid.gov.cy

EU Contact Point

European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en