1. No category

Advice and Support for
August 2011
accessing EU funds
for Energy R,D&D
Email Bulletin
April 2015
Horizon 2020
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European Developments
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UK News
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Events
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We’re here to help you
The EU Energy Focus service is a free, Government-funded service that aims to ensure that UK
companies, research institutions and other organisations are well informed and have every chance of
success in applying for and securing European funding for energy-related projects. Our services
include one-to-one discussion of proposal ideas, webinars on key subjects and review of draft
proposals. Through this bulletin we aim to provide you with information on sustainable energy policy
and funding in Europe and in the UK.
All-Energy 2015, Glasgow (UK) 7th May 2015
A representative of the EU Energy Focus team will be at the All-Energy conference on 7th May. Please
contact the EU Energy Focus team if you would like to arrange to meet at the event.
Horizon 2020 – see page 6 for background
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Call for Proposals
Launch of 2015 Call for Proposals expected in May 2015
The 2015 Call for Proposals from the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is expected to
be launched next month.
Details of the Call will be published on the FCH JU website
http://www.fch.europa.eu/ when they are available.
The achievements of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Undertaking to date were presented recently at the
11th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference in Birmingham. Jean-Luc Delplancke, the Head
of the Programme Unit at the FCH JU, gave a presentation about the demonstration projects that
have been funded by the FCH JU. The event also included presentations from industry and
academia on their fuel cell and hydrogen related activity. The presentations from the event can be
downloaded at http://www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk/past-events/hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-2015/
Webinar on 2015 Call for Proposals – 10th June 2015
The EU Energy Focus team and the Energy team at the Knowledge Transfer Network have arranged a
webinar on the 2015 Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Call for Proposals. The webinar will take place on
Wednesday 10th June at 12.30pm BST. The details of the Call for Proposals will be presented by JeanLuc Delplancke, the Head of the Programme Unit at the FCH JU. There will be an opportunity to pose
questions to Jean-Luc during the webinar.
Please register for the webinar at
http://fch2juwebinar2015.eventbrite.com/
The webinar will be recorded so you will be able to listen to the recording if you are unable to attend
on 10th June.
Horizon 2020 Energy Calls for Proposals
2015 Horizon 2020 Energy Calls for Proposals – deadlines in May and June 2015
The 2015 Call for Proposals for Low Carbon Energy, Smart Grids and Smart Cities closes on Tuesday 5th
May. After this, there is then only one remaining 2015 Horizon 2020 Energy deadline, on Thursday 4th
June. This remaining deadline covers research, demonstration and market uptake projects for
buildings, heating and cooling, industry and products and finance for sustainable energy. The Call
budget is 82M€.
The EU Energy Focus team is currently reviewing proposals for the May deadline and is scheduling
review activity for the June deadline. The EU Energy Focus team is available to provide support to UK
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organisations that are participating in proposals either as coordinators or participants. The service is
free and confidential. We encourage you to send us your draft proposal allowing time for any
feedback to be taken into account before the proposal is submitted. Please contact the Helpline
team if you would like to book a proposal review slot for the June deadline.
Webinar on EE05 Call topic (Energy Efficiency Call, deadline 4th June)
On 27th April the BUILD UP team, in cooperation with the Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME), held a
webinar for organisations that are considering submitting a proposal to topic EE05 under the Energy
Efficiency Call for the deadline of 4th June 2015. EE05 seeks proposals for “Increasing energy
performance of existing buildings through process and organisation innovations and creating a
market for deep renovation”. The webinar included a presentation from Commission officials on the
Call topic and on proposal preparation and a detailed question and answer session. We encourage
you to listen to the recording of the webinar if you are preparing a proposal for the EE05 topic. A
recording of the webinar will soon be available at http://www.buildup.eu/webinars
Lessons learnt from 2014 Horizon 2020 Energy Calls
In preparation for the May and June Call deadlines, the EU Energy Focus team delivered webinars on
the Horizon 2020 evaluation criteria and how to address them. The presentations and recordings of
the webinars can be accessed via the KTN website at:
Evaluation criteria for Research and Innovation Actions and Innovation Actions http://tinyurl.com/pd2fzwd
Evaluation criteria for Coordination and Support Actions – http://tinyurl.com/qxvzw65
We encourage you to listen to the recording of the webinars if you are considering submitting a
proposal for the June 2015 Call deadline. Webinar attendees feedback included “Excellent
guidance on how to address impact” and “Examples of evaluators’ comments are really useful”.
Application process flow chart
The EU Energy Focus team has produced a flow chart showing the Horizon 2020 application process
and the timescales for the process. The flow chart can be downloaded at
http://docs.euenergyfocus.co.uk/H2020_Energy_application_process_020415.pdf
2014 Horizon 2020 Energy Calls Results
2014 Energy Efficiency Call results and lessons learnt
The results of the first Calls are starting to be made public as the contracts are agreed. A list of the 45
projects that have been allocated funding under the 2014 Energy Efficiency Call can be downloaded
at https://ec.europa.eu/easme/sites/easme-site/files/Energy-efficiency-Call-2014_funded-projects.pdf
The list includes three proposals coordinated by UK organisations. There are UK partners in 19 other
successful proposals, so the UK is involved in 22 of the 45 successful proposals in the 2014 Energy
Efficiency Call i.e. 49% of the successful projects.
The presentations given by the Commission at the European Information Day on the Energy Efficiency
topics include information on lessons learnt from the 2014 Call alongside details of the 2015 Call
priorities. Recordings of the presentations and the slides can be downloaded at
https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/horizon-2020-energy-efficiency-information-day
If you are planning to submit a proposal to the Energy Efficiency Call (deadline 4th June 2015) we
encourage you to view the recording of the presentations in order to hear the insights provided by the
Commission Scientific Officers.
2014 Smart Cities Call results, Information Day presentations and project summaries
The results of the 2014 Smart Cities Call were announced at the European Information Day on Smart
Cities and Communities. There were 3 successful proposals for smart cities demonstrator projects. 2 of
the successful proposals involve UK cities, Nottingham (REMOURBAN project) and Manchester
(TRIANGULUM project). Initial indications are that €13M of the €73M Call budget has been allocated to
UK organisations i.e. 18% of the Call budget. Profiles of these projects can be found below.
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The recordings from the Information Day including presentations about the successful projects can be
accessed at
https://scic.ec.europa.eu/streaming/index.php?es=2&sessionno=8617f303dd11780c5d48aedf0bd90823
The presentations can be downloaded at
http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=events&eventcode=A2BB2E69-0D3D-13D9-D927C5762E197D63
REMOURBAN project – total EU funding approx. 21M€
The REMOURBAN project will focus on the development and validation of a
sustainable urban regeneration model that leverages the convergence area of
the energy, mobility and ICT sectors. It involves three lighthouse cities of
Eskisehir (Turkey), Nottingham (UK), and Valladolid (Spain). The mobility sector
will deal with fuel types and multimodal strategies. Urban infrastructures will be
optimized through ICT solutions, such as e-ticketing systems, smart grid
strategies, and city transportation information platforms.
The Nottingham team is a partnership between Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Trent University,
Nottingham City Homes, Nottingham Energy Partnership, INFOHUB Ltd and SASIE Ltd (two local SMEs).
More information about the plans for Nottingham can be found at
http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/research/groups/6/home.aspx/project/165424/overview/remourban_city_demonstrato
r_project
TRIANGULUM project – total EU funding approx. 25M€
The TRIANGULUM project plans to transform the student quarter in Manchester
known as the Corridor, which is used by around 72,000 students, into a smart
city district. This will involve renovating historical buildings and building up an
autonomous energy grid to supply the entire district with heat and electricity.
The grid will combine geothermal and district heating with two independently
operating electricity grids and a fuel cell that can store excess energy. In
addition, all conventional cars are to be banned from the area.
The Manchester team is led by Manchester City Council, working alongside The University of
Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester-based businesses Siemens and
digital technology company Clicks and Links. Other countries involved in the project are the
Netherlands, Norway, Spain, the Czech Republic and Germany.
More information about the project can be found at http://www.iao.fraunhofer.de/lang-en/businessareas/mobility-and-urban-systems-engineering/1112-eu-sponsors-sustainable-city-concepts.html
UK Technology Stakeholder Groups
The UK Stakeholder Groups are currently being consulted about the draft Horizon 2020 2016/17 Energy
Work Programme. This is an opportunity to influence the funding priorities for the next Calls for
Proposals.
It is important to have representative groups made up of industry, academia and public sector to
help ensure the feedback on the Work Programmes match as closely as possible to UK priorities,
strengths and interests. With the different technology sectors providing this input, it should give UK
organisations the best chance of success in attracting EU funding and activity here, against
increasingly tough competition from other Member States. We are interested in hearing from
organisations, particularly trade associations or industry, about joining the stakeholder groups.
There are UK Stakeholder Groups for bioenergy, solar, wind, CCS, smart cities, smart grids, ocean and
a group on energy efficiency is in the process of being set-up. Stakeholder group meetings are usually
by teleconference, approximately every 3 months, with face-to face meetings once a year.
Stakeholder group membership is an opportunity to help influence future Work Programme content;
receive the latest news on Work Programme development; and build your networks and knowledge
to take advantage of these funding opportunities. Please contact the EU Energy Focus team if you
would like more information or would like to join any of these groups.
0845 6000 430
www.euenergyfocus.co.uk
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European Developments in the energy sector
Launch of study on stationary fuel cells in distributed generation
On the 27th March, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), together with Roland
Berger Strategy Consultants, presented the results of a study on the role that stationary fuel cells can
play in Europe's energy transition and highlighted some of its key findings. The report can be
downloaded at http://www.fch.europa.eu/news/launch-study-stationary-fuel-cells-distributed-generation
UK news from the energy sector
Innovate UK award funding of £25m for Energy Catalyst Round 1
The Energy Catalyst, established by Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had funding of up to £25m
available for the first round, which opened in May 2014 and closed in October 2014. 205 applications
were received across all three stages of the programme and 40 projects were funded under Round 1.
The successful projects have now been announced and a list of these projects can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/pldec2n
£4.2m for Carbon Capture and Storage research at Grangemouth
The UK and Scottish Governments will provide £4.2 million for industrial research and feasibility work for
a proposed full–chain 570MW Carbon Capture and Storage coal-gasification power station located
in Grangemouth, Scotland. The funding, £1.7 million from Department of Energy and Climate Change
(DECC) and £2.5 million from the Scottish Government, will allow Seattle-based Summit Power Group
to undertake substantial industrial research and feasibility studies with the ultimate objective of
designing, siting, financing, and building the proposed Caledonia Clean Energy Project. More
information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/42m-for-ccs-research-at-grangemouth
Power Take-Off Systems for Wave Energy - R&D Services Call
Wave Energy Scotland launched its first technology project Call on 23rd March 2015. The Call is for
secondary energy conversion technologies, Power Take-off systems (PTO), and will fund technology
development projects that:
Provide a step change in the capital cost and/or efficiency/performance over current
technology;
Deliver a highly reliable PTO via high quality engineering and technology risk management;
Deliver a PTO that can be easily integrated into different wave energy converters (WECs) and
WEC device families; and
Deliver a PTO which could stimulate a new form of Wave Energy convertor being developed.
The deadline to register interest and request clarification is noon on 15th May 2015 and the deadline
for proposal submission is noon on 22nd May 2015.
More details can be found at
http://www.hie.co.uk/growth-sectors/energy/wave-energy-scotland/default.html
Funding for Collaborative R&D on cleaner, more efficient conventional fuels
Innovate UK is to invest up to £5m in collaborative R&D and feasibility studies to stimulate innovation in
the extraction and use of conventional fossil fuels. The aim is to improve efficiency, reduce cost and
minimise the environmental impact of coal, natural gas and oil. Projects must be business-led and all
must involve an SME. Unconventional fossil fuels such as shale gas, shale oil and tar sands are outside
the scope of this competition.
Innovate UK is allocating up to £4m of the total funding for business-led, collaborative R&D projects
(industrial research), with a business partner attracting 50% public funding for their project costs (60%
for SMEs). They expect collaborative R&D projects to range in size from £250k to £1.5m, although they
may consider projects outside this range.
Up to £1m of the total funding will be available for smaller-scale feasibility studies (or pre-industrial
research). These can be collaborative but must be led by an SME (working with large businesses, other
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SMEs or research organisations) or developed by a single SME. Feasibility studies can also attract
public funding. For information on funding rules, please refer to the Guidance for applicants. Innovate
UK expect feasibility projects to range in size from £100k to £150k.
The competition opened for both types of project application on 2nd March 2015. The deadline for
feasibility studies, for which there is a single-stage process, is at noon on 10th June 2015. The deadline
for expressions of interest for collaborative R&D, for which there is a two-stage process, has now
passed.
More details on the funding can be found at
https://interact.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/cleanermore-efficient-conventional-fuels-collaborative-r-d
Forthcoming events
H
All-Energy 2015, Glasgow (UK) 6th and 7th May 2015
Registration for the 2015 All-Energy event, which this year takes place in Glasgow, is now open. Details
of this major renewables event can be found at http://www.all-energy.co.uk/
European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), 15th to 19th June 2015
The EU Sustainable Energy Week 2015 will take place from 15th to 19th June 2015. A series of events will
take place in Brussels during that week. Energy Days can be organised during the whole month of
June and will take place across Europe. The EU Sustainable Energy Week showcases activities
dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. It is designed to spread best
practice, inspire new ideas and build alliances to help meet the EU’s energy and climate goals.
Energy Days are not-for-profit events that promote secure, clean and efficient energy. They can be
any kind of activity — presentations, workshops, talks shows, exhibitions, concerts, games, quizzes or
displays. Information about EUSEW and how to organise an Energy Day as part of EUSEW can be
found at http://www.eusew.eu/energy-days/about-energy-days-events
Save the date - European Information Day on Horizon 2020 Energy 2016-17 Work Programme, Brussels
(Belgium) 14th September 2015
The European Commission will hold an Information Day at which the new Work Programme for 20162017 in the area of H2020 energy research will be presented. The event targets potential applicants
to the Calls for Proposals under the H2020 challenge ‘Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy’.
Presentations will cover the Work Programme for 2016-2017 and the application procedure, as well as
detailed information on the Calls for Proposals. Registration for the event will open in June.
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Background to the EU energy innovation funding programmes
Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 (H2020) is the successor to FP7, the
European
Commission’s
research
and
development funding programme. The first
H2020 Calls were launched on 11th December
2013. The total budget allocation is understood
to be around €70.2B.
Energy is likely to receive 7.7% of the available
budget for H2020, over €5B for the period 201420. This compares to €2.35 billion under FP7.
More
information
can
be
found
at
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/
The Intelligent Energy Europe programme
(described opposite) is part of H2020.
Intelligent Energy Europe
Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) was a European
funding programme that supported nontechnological actions aimed at reaching the
EU’s sustainable energy goals. IEE aimed to
tackle market barriers and raise awareness of
European Energy policy and legislation among
energy providers, promoters, advisers, trainers,
agencies, policy makers and users.
The first IEE Programme ran from 2002 to 2006
and funded more than 280 European projects,
50 local/regional energy agencies and 60
European events.
IEE was then one of the three pillars of the
Competitiveness and Innovation Programme
(CIP) which ran from 2007 to 2013. The second
IEE Programme built on the experience gained
from the first Programme and continued to
support actions that tackled the nontechnological barriers to the spread of efficient
use of energy and greater use of new and
renewable energy sources. It included the
priorities of SAVE (energy efficiency), ALTENER
(renewables), STEER (energy in transport) and
Integrated Initiatives.
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent
H
The SET-Plan
The Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) outlines, from a European perspective, what needs
to be done in terms of technology development, demonstration and deployment, to achieve the
EU’s 2020 energy and emission targets and its 2050 vision. This includes ensuring security of energy
supplies and retaining the EU’s competitiveness in world markets. In terms of status, it is a statement
of EU energy technology policy, endorsed by Ministers and the Energy Council. The Plan puts a
strong emphasis on the pooling of national innovation efforts into wider European co-operation.
In addition to supporting the development and deployment of energy efficiency technologies, the
SET-Plan’s priorities are split between a group of technologies identified as most likely to enable the
EU to achieve its 2020 targets, and those that are important for it to achieve its 2050 vision. The
technologies identified for 2020 are: 2nd generation biofuels; CO2 capture, transport and storage;
wind, particularly off-shore wind; photovoltaic and concentrated solar power; smart grids; more
efficient energy conversion and end-use devices and systems in buildings, transport and industry, for
example poly-generation and fuel cells; and nuclear fission, including long-term waste management
solutions. The technologies currently further away from deployment, but expected to have an
important role in the EU meeting its 2050 vision are: energy storage; hydrogen fuel cell vehicles;
generation IV nuclear fission; fusion; trans-European energy networks; and new technologies for
energy efficiency, including materials, nano-science, information and communication, bioscience
and computation. These priorities will be reviewed as necessary in line with technology
developments to ensure that they remain the most appropriate and they will increasingly drive
decisions on what technologies receive support under H2020 Energy grant funding and other
relevant EU programmes. http://setis.ec.europa.eu/
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