Demonstration of thermal energy storage solutions for solar thermal plants and systems
Horizon Europe Cluster 5 Climate, Energy and Mobility – Innovation Actions
€7.5M - €7.5M
17/02/2026
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Demonstration of thermal energy storage solutions for solar thermal plants and systems Call?
Expected Outcomes
• Technology providers benefit from successful demonstration and de-risking of dispatchable solar thermal systems, improving their market readiness and bankability.
• Electricity grid operators gain access to reliable options to integrate high shares of variable-output renewables and reduce curtailments.
• Enhanced understanding by technology providers of financial viability and improved access to financing.
• Support and facilitation of the solar thermal implementation plan of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan).
• Contribution to the execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.
Scope Requirements
2. Performance targets: achieve substantial improvements over state of the art in storage efficiency, life span, cost-effectiveness, Levelised Cost of Heat Storage (LCOHS) and/or Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE).
3. Go/no-go milestone: define and implement a clear decision point before demonstration; prior to this, deliver:
• Detailed engineering plans
• Comprehensive techno-economic assessment
• All required permits
4. Permitting: present a convincing pathway and timeline to secure all necessary permits for the demonstrator.
5. Sustainability: assess environmental and socio-economic impacts, using the Commission’s Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for chemicals and materials as reference.
6. Exploitation & dissemination: include a strong business case and exploitation strategy with preliminary plans for scalability, commercialization and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) and identification of possible future funding sources (in particular the Innovation Fund).
Special Conditions
• Compliance with the EU Commission’s Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) initiative for chemicals and materials.
• A go/no-go decision must be completed before any demo activities commence; demonstration may only start once engineering, techno-economic and permitting milestones are met.
• Exploitation plans must demonstrate bankability and indicate linkages to follow-up financing instruments (e.g., the Innovation Fund).
• Projects must deliver both environmental and socio-economic sustainability assessments.
Open from: 16/09/2025
Deadline:17/02/2026
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