Development of innovative solutions strengthening the security of renewable energy value chains

Strengthened European knowledge base, research and industrial leadership on energy-security aspects of renewable energy value chains; development of technical and value-chain solutions that enhance the energy security of specific renewable technologies; increased availability of skilled labour in crafts, science and business to boost intra-European value-chain integration; and improved competitiveness, sustainability (including social awareness) and resilience of European renewable energy value chains.

Proposals must: 1) focus on precisely one of three prescribed areas: Area 1 – sustainability and social awareness of hydropower or bioenergy value chains; Area 2 – skills gaps limiting innovation and deployment across renewable energy value chains; or Area 3 – complexity challenges in grid-based RFNBOs and/or direct solar fuels (e.g., market interactions for substrates, reaction interfaces); 2) provide rigorous, in-depth assessments leading to novel, implementable solutions that demonstrably improve energy-security criticalities; 3) build explicitly on the 2024 Study on clean energy R&I opportunities to ensure European energy security by targeting challenges of distinct energy value chains for 2030 and beyond; and 4) clearly state which of the three areas their proposal addresses.