European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
RFCS-2025 Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects
RFCS Project Grants
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
24/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the RFCS-2025 Coal Pilot and Demonstration Projects Call?
Grant Description
A European call for research projects under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel Project Grants to support the just transition of the coal sector and coal regions towards a climate-neutral economy by 2050. It addresses phasing out fossil fuels, alternative uses of former mine sites, environmental remediation, carbon dioxide capture/use/storage, geothermal energy, reuse of mining wastes, repurposing of coal infrastructure, reskilling workers, improving health and safety in mine closures, and mini...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to deliver:
• Scalable CCUS solutions tailored to coal-site emissions.
• Proof-of-concept and pilot demonstrations of geothermal energy systems on former mine sites.
• Novel processes for converting mining wastes into raw materials, reducing landfill and environmental risk.
• Viable repurposing models for defunct coal mines and infrastructure that spur local economic regeneration.
• Established, transferable reskilling and upskilling frameworks to facilitate workforce transition.
• Enhanced EU capability and leadership in mine-closure management, with clear pathways for technology and practice transfer.
• Measurable improvements in occupational health and safety, and reduced prevalence of mining-related diseases in transition regions.
• Significant reductions in greenhouse gases and methane emissions from coal deposits.
• Innovative remediation techniques for air, water and soil, leading to restored ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Sustainable waste-management strategies, including reuse of fly ash and industrial residues.
• Mitigation measures for land subsidence and infrastructure stability, ensuring long-term regional resilience.
• Documented industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits that directly contribute to European Green Deal targets.
• Scalable CCUS solutions tailored to coal-site emissions.
• Proof-of-concept and pilot demonstrations of geothermal energy systems on former mine sites.
• Novel processes for converting mining wastes into raw materials, reducing landfill and environmental risk.
• Viable repurposing models for defunct coal mines and infrastructure that spur local economic regeneration.
• Established, transferable reskilling and upskilling frameworks to facilitate workforce transition.
• Enhanced EU capability and leadership in mine-closure management, with clear pathways for technology and practice transfer.
• Measurable improvements in occupational health and safety, and reduced prevalence of mining-related diseases in transition regions.
• Significant reductions in greenhouse gases and methane emissions from coal deposits.
• Innovative remediation techniques for air, water and soil, leading to restored ecosystems and biodiversity.
• Sustainable waste-management strategies, including reuse of fly ash and industrial residues.
• Mitigation measures for land subsidence and infrastructure stability, ensuring long-term regional resilience.
• Documented industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits that directly contribute to European Green Deal targets.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Align with the European Green Deal objectives (climate neutrality by 2050, resource efficiency, decoupling growth from resource use).
• Support the just transition of coal regions by phasing out fossil fuels, developing alternative activities on former mine sites, and addressing environmental damage (RFCS Regulation Articles 4–6).
• Contribute to a renewable-based power sector, rapid coal phase-out, ending fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out new coal plants, and methane-emission reduction.
• Focus on regions/sectors most affected by the transition and protect vulnerable workers, including concrete reskilling/upskilling measures.
• Include an assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits (Article 26).
• Demonstrate tangible climate and environmental benefits and bolster EU leadership in mine-closure technologies and practices.
• Align with the European Green Deal objectives (climate neutrality by 2050, resource efficiency, decoupling growth from resource use).
• Support the just transition of coal regions by phasing out fossil fuels, developing alternative activities on former mine sites, and addressing environmental damage (RFCS Regulation Articles 4–6).
• Contribute to a renewable-based power sector, rapid coal phase-out, ending fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out new coal plants, and methane-emission reduction.
• Focus on regions/sectors most affected by the transition and protect vulnerable workers, including concrete reskilling/upskilling measures.
• Include an assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits (Article 26).
• Demonstrate tangible climate and environmental benefits and bolster EU leadership in mine-closure technologies and practices.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 24 September 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time).
• Proposal page limits and layout as per section 5 of the Call Document and Part B of the Application Form.
• Eligibility: countries and other eligibility conditions per section 6; financial and operational capacity and exclusion rules per section 7.
• Evaluation process (submission, evaluation) per section 8 and the Online Manual; award criteria, scoring and thresholds per section 9; indicative evaluation and grant agreement timeline per section 4.
• Legal and financial set-up of grants per section 10.
• Mandatory use of specified templates and documents: Call Document, Standard Application Form (RFCS), Detailed Budget Table, Evaluation Forms Annex 3, RFCS Model Grant Agreement, plus RFCS Decision 2008/376, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, LEAR rules, Funding & Tenders Portal terms and manuals.
• Proposals must comply with RFCS Regulation, EU Grants AGA, Privacy Statement and Portal Terms and Conditions.
• Proposal page limits and layout as per section 5 of the Call Document and Part B of the Application Form.
• Eligibility: countries and other eligibility conditions per section 6; financial and operational capacity and exclusion rules per section 7.
• Evaluation process (submission, evaluation) per section 8 and the Online Manual; award criteria, scoring and thresholds per section 9; indicative evaluation and grant agreement timeline per section 4.
• Legal and financial set-up of grants per section 10.
• Mandatory use of specified templates and documents: Call Document, Standard Application Form (RFCS), Detailed Budget Table, Evaluation Forms Annex 3, RFCS Model Grant Agreement, plus RFCS Decision 2008/376, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, LEAR rules, Funding & Tenders Portal terms and manuals.
• Proposals must comply with RFCS Regulation, EU Grants AGA, Privacy Statement and Portal Terms and Conditions.
Important dates
Open from: 18/06/2025
Deadline:24/09/2025
Application period has ended
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