Programme Name
Programme Description
The RFCS project has the following research objectives for the coal sector:
- Supporting the equitable transition of the coal sector and regions;
- Improving health and safety.
- Minimizing the environmental impact of coal mines in transition.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The topic focuses on the following objectives:
- Mine water monitoring, management and/or treatment in coal mines in the process of closure and formerly operating mines;
- Land monitoring, modelling, stabilisation and/or restoration;
- Waste and/or spoil treatment of mines in transition;
- Energy recovery associated with the mitigation and monitoring of methane emissions from formerly operating coal mines, coal mines identified for eventual closure in Territorial Just Transition Plans or coking coal mines (e.g. ventilation air methane (VAM) or abandoned mine methane (AMM) projects that oxidise methane and produce useful energy) and/or geothermal energy systems;
- Materials recycling and development of alternative materials, including recovery of critical raw materials;
- Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines as well as coal-related infrastructure, including power supply services, with projects for energy storage, renewable energy, hydrogen or hybrid solutions that enable sector coupling or restoring the environment of former installations and their surroundings.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals should support the coal industry diversification through the application of new technologies, especially those technologies that have been developed with RFCS support in the last years. Special attention shall be given to proposals focusing on repurposing of former coal and lignite mines as well as coal-related infrastructure, including power supply services.
Proposals should address the application of innovative technologies related to one or two of the above call objectives.
This topic concerns RFCS Pilot and Demonstration Projects (PDPs). Pilot Projects target the construction, operation and development of (significant parts of) installations on an appropriate scale and using suitably large components in order to examine the potential for putting theoretical or laboratory results into practice and/or increasing the reliability of the technical and economic data needed to progress to demonstration stage, and in certain cases to industrial and/or commercial stage. Demonstration Projects cover the construction and/or operation of (significant parts of) an industrial-scale installation, in order to bring together all the technical and economic data in order to proceed with the industrial and/or commercial exploitation of the technology at minimum risk.
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4-6 and achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
50%
Project budgets (requested grant amount) are expected to range between €5 000 000 and €9 000 000 per project and exceptionally up to €18 000 000 for large demonstrators.
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Educational Institutions
- Legal Entities
- Natual person / Citizen / Individual
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- 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, e.g. undertakings, public bodies, research organisations, higher or secondary education establishments or other legal entities) which carry out RTD activities or substantially contribute to such an activity, established in EU Member States or countries associated to the RFCS.
Consortium composition
Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of a minimum of 2 independent applicants from 2 different eligible countries.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
For general information about the programme, if you have questions or want to share your views please contact us at:
(Publish Date: 10/03/2023-for internal use only)