European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Novel approaches to geothermal resources development
HORIZON-CL5-2025-02-D3-03 HORIZON Innovation Actions
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
02/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Novel approaches to geothermal resources development Call?
Grant Description
This call funds demonstration projects of innovative approaches to geothermal resource development in shallow (<500 m, <150 °C) and/or deep (>500 m, >150 °C) settings. It addresses high drilling and subsurface engineering costs and risks from geological uncertainties by supporting advances such as robot and AI-physics simulations, novel drilling methods, advanced fluids, new materials, digital twins, monitoring systems and standardization. Projects must include clear go/no-go milestones, detaile...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
- Developers and energy providers benefit from de-risking and cost reduction of geothermal resource development
• Citizens gain access to energy-efficient, sustainable electricity, direct heat and/or cooling from geothermal resources across varied geological settings
• Enhanced technology leadership, competitiveness and export potential of European industry in the geothermal energy supply chain
• Technological innovations that are environmentally sound, aligned with societal values, norms and end-user behaviours, thus fostering energy justice and active citizenship
• Citizens gain access to energy-efficient, sustainable electricity, direct heat and/or cooling from geothermal resources across varied geological settings
• Enhanced technology leadership, competitiveness and export potential of European industry in the geothermal energy supply chain
• Technological innovations that are environmentally sound, aligned with societal values, norms and end-user behaviours, thus fostering energy justice and active citizenship
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
- Focus on demonstration of innovative geothermal resource development in:
• shallow & low/mid enthalpy (0–500 m depth, <150 °C), and/or
• deep & high enthalpy (>500 m depth, >150 °C)
• Proposals must specify whether they address shallow, deep or both domains
• Target advances beyond state of the art in one or more of:
• subsurface engineering
• well design, drilling and completion
• reservoir characterisation and development planning
• Include one or more of: robot and AI/physics simulation, novel drilling methods/equipment, advanced fluids, new casing/cementing materials, working fluids, logging-while-drilling, wireline and geosteering electronics, innovative well architecture and stimulation, closed-loop technology, enhanced pumps, digital-twin monitoring systems
• Demonstrate reductions in project development time, ensure operation safety, adapt to varied geological and offshore environments
• Constrain and quantify geological uncertainties, reduce field development and seismic risks
• Standardise components, enhance environmental performance, improve resistance to corrosion, scaling, temperature, wear and mechanical failures, and increase energy extraction efficiency
• Define a clear go/no-go milestone before demonstration, deliver detailed engineering plans, conduct a techno-economic assessment, and map out permit acquisition—provide a credible timeline and pathway
• Perform environmental impact assessment with mitigation planning
• Adopt FAIR data principles, appropriate data quality and integration standards, and GDPR-compliant sharing
• Develop understanding of cultural values and contextual settings at local/regional levels; enhance responsiveness to societal interests via inclusive, early and continuous engagement
• Incorporate effective SSH contributions and applied social innovation expertise
• shallow & low/mid enthalpy (0–500 m depth, <150 °C), and/or
• deep & high enthalpy (>500 m depth, >150 °C)
• Proposals must specify whether they address shallow, deep or both domains
• Target advances beyond state of the art in one or more of:
• subsurface engineering
• well design, drilling and completion
• reservoir characterisation and development planning
• Include one or more of: robot and AI/physics simulation, novel drilling methods/equipment, advanced fluids, new casing/cementing materials, working fluids, logging-while-drilling, wireline and geosteering electronics, innovative well architecture and stimulation, closed-loop technology, enhanced pumps, digital-twin monitoring systems
• Demonstrate reductions in project development time, ensure operation safety, adapt to varied geological and offshore environments
• Constrain and quantify geological uncertainties, reduce field development and seismic risks
• Standardise components, enhance environmental performance, improve resistance to corrosion, scaling, temperature, wear and mechanical failures, and increase energy extraction efficiency
• Define a clear go/no-go milestone before demonstration, deliver detailed engineering plans, conduct a techno-economic assessment, and map out permit acquisition—provide a credible timeline and pathway
• Perform environmental impact assessment with mitigation planning
• Adopt FAIR data principles, appropriate data quality and integration standards, and GDPR-compliant sharing
• Develop understanding of cultural values and contextual settings at local/regional levels; enhance responsiveness to societal interests via inclusive, early and continuous engagement
• Incorporate effective SSH contributions and applied social innovation expertise
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Single-stage deadline: opening 06 May 2025; submission by 02 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Funding rate and grant conditions under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG, budget-based
• Maximum EU contribution: €20 000 000 for this topic (HORIZON-CL 5-2025-02-D 2-03)
• Admissibility: comply with Proposal Page Limits and Layout (Annex A, E) and Part B of the Application Form
• Eligibility: participants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (Annex B); specific national provisions for certain non-Associated countries
• Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria (Annex C)
• Balanced portfolio rule: at least one highest-ranked shallow and one highest-ranked deep project funded (or one project addressing both), subject to thresholds and available budget
• Use the specific Application Form template in the Submission System; evaluation and award criteria and thresholds in Annex D; evaluation procedures in Annex F; legal and financial set-up in Annex G
• Compliance with EU Financial Regulations, GDPR, data management and sharing policies
• Involvement of SSH experts and institutions mandatory
• Projects must secure all necessary permits before demonstration phase
• Funding rate and grant conditions under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG, budget-based
• Maximum EU contribution: €20 000 000 for this topic (HORIZON-CL 5-2025-02-D 2-03)
• Admissibility: comply with Proposal Page Limits and Layout (Annex A, E) and Part B of the Application Form
• Eligibility: participants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (Annex B); specific national provisions for certain non-Associated countries
• Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria (Annex C)
• Balanced portfolio rule: at least one highest-ranked shallow and one highest-ranked deep project funded (or one project addressing both), subject to thresholds and available budget
• Use the specific Application Form template in the Submission System; evaluation and award criteria and thresholds in Annex D; evaluation procedures in Annex F; legal and financial set-up in Annex G
• Compliance with EU Financial Regulations, GDPR, data management and sharing policies
• Involvement of SSH experts and institutions mandatory
• Projects must secure all necessary permits before demonstration phase
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:02/09/2025
Application period has ended
Win your grant with Cogrant
How cogrant works
Smart Funding Fit Check
Instantly know if your project fits call criteria. Our system highlights strengths, gaps, and risks, so you only apply when your chances are real.
Intelligent Research Engine
Our research engine digs deeper than any founder could alone. It pulls data about your company, your market, and even your competitors - giving your proposal an edge backed by facts, not fluff.
Full Proposal Development
Our system builds your entire proposal from start to finish, ensuring every section is complete, coherent, and crafted to the highest quality. You focus on your vision — we deliver the winning document.
Expert Review
Our experts run a complete review before delivery, ensuring your draft proposal is accurate, well-structured, and polished. You’ll receive a high-quality draft that’s ready for your final touches before submission.
Our Numbers
Results that speak for themselves
70+
proposals prepared
€36.7M
total funding secured for clients
65%
win rate in highly competitive calls