RFCS-2025 Coal Research Projects
RFCS Project Grants
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
24/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the RFCS-2025 Coal Research Projects Call?
Grant Description
This call funds research projects supporting the just transition of coal regions under the European Green Deal. It addresses phasing out fossil fuels, developing alternative activities on former mine sites, carbon capture, geothermal energy, non-energetic uses of mining waste, repurposing mine infrastructure, reskilling workers, improving health and safety in mine closures, and minimising environmental impacts. Projects must demonstrate tangible industrial, social and environmental benefits.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to deliver:
• Technologies and processes that accelerate the phase-out of coal and support the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050
• Viable alternative economic activities on former coal sites, contributing to regional diversification and resilience
• Demonstrable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (especially methane) and avoidance of environmental pollution from mine closures
• Innovative reuse of mining wastes into raw materials or industrial products with lower environmental footprints
• Safely repurposed mine infrastructure and restored ecosystems (water, soil, biodiversity) at former coal installations
• Improved occupational health and safety standards and reduced disease burden in coal regions
• Scalable reskilling/upskilling programmes enabling workforce transition into new economic sectors
• Strengthened European leadership in managing technological and non-technological aspects of coal-region transitions
• Technologies and processes that accelerate the phase-out of coal and support the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral economy by 2050
• Viable alternative economic activities on former coal sites, contributing to regional diversification and resilience
• Demonstrable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (especially methane) and avoidance of environmental pollution from mine closures
• Innovative reuse of mining wastes into raw materials or industrial products with lower environmental footprints
• Safely repurposed mine infrastructure and restored ecosystems (water, soil, biodiversity) at former coal installations
• Improved occupational health and safety standards and reduced disease burden in coal regions
• Scalable reskilling/upskilling programmes enabling workforce transition into new economic sectors
• Strengthened European leadership in managing technological and non-technological aspects of coal-region transitions
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
All proposals must:
• Directly address one or more of the thematic areas defined in Article 4 (just transition), Article 5 (health and safety), and Article 6 (environmental impact minimisation) of the RFCS Regulation
• Be aligned with the European Green Deal objectives: rapid phase-out of coal, development of renewable power, ending fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out new coal plants, reducing methane emissions, and protecting vulnerable regions and workers through reskilling and job creation
• Include an assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits (Article 26 of the RFCS Regulation)
• Demonstrate tangible climate and environmental benefits in line with the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality target
• Be submitted as a single-stage proposal by 24 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Respect the page limits and layout rules set out in Section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form
• Be submitted by organisations from eligible countries (see Section 6 of the call document)
• Meet financial and operational capacity requirements and exclusion criteria (Section 7)
• Comply with the evaluation and award procedures, criteria, scoring and thresholds (Sections 8 and 9)
• Prepare for the legal and financial set-up of the grant as described in Section 10
• Directly address one or more of the thematic areas defined in Article 4 (just transition), Article 5 (health and safety), and Article 6 (environmental impact minimisation) of the RFCS Regulation
• Be aligned with the European Green Deal objectives: rapid phase-out of coal, development of renewable power, ending fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out new coal plants, reducing methane emissions, and protecting vulnerable regions and workers through reskilling and job creation
• Include an assessment of anticipated industrial, economic, social and environmental benefits (Article 26 of the RFCS Regulation)
• Demonstrate tangible climate and environmental benefits in line with the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality target
• Be submitted as a single-stage proposal by 24 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time
• Respect the page limits and layout rules set out in Section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form
• Be submitted by organisations from eligible countries (see Section 6 of the call document)
• Meet financial and operational capacity requirements and exclusion criteria (Section 7)
• Comply with the evaluation and award procedures, criteria, scoring and thresholds (Sections 8 and 9)
• Prepare for the legal and financial set-up of the grant as described in Section 10
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
Admissibility and eligibility conditions:
• Proposals must adhere strictly to page limits, layout and structure prescribed in the call documentation
• Eligible applicants and countries as listed in Section 6 of the call document; legal entities must pass LEAR validation
• Financial and operational capacity checks, and exclusion rules apply (Section 7)
• Single-stage submission only; once submitted, project type and grant agreement model cannot be changed
• Evaluation process and timelines governed by Sections 8 and 9, with award decision and grant signature timelines as per Section 4
• Grants governed by the RFCS Model Grant Agreement (RFCS-AG) and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
• Applicants must use the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission and follow its terms, conditions and privacy rules
• Call document, application form templates, detailed budget tables and evaluation forms are available as annexes
• Proposals must adhere strictly to page limits, layout and structure prescribed in the call documentation
• Eligible applicants and countries as listed in Section 6 of the call document; legal entities must pass LEAR validation
• Financial and operational capacity checks, and exclusion rules apply (Section 7)
• Single-stage submission only; once submitted, project type and grant agreement model cannot be changed
• Evaluation process and timelines governed by Sections 8 and 9, with award decision and grant signature timelines as per Section 4
• Grants governed by the RFCS Model Grant Agreement (RFCS-AG) and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
• Applicants must use the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission and follow its terms, conditions and privacy rules
• Call document, application form templates, detailed budget tables and evaluation forms are available as annexes
Important dates
Open from: 18/06/2025
Deadline:24/09/2025
Application period has ended
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