ExpectedOutcome:
This topic is for the continuation of the Clean Energy Transition Co-fund partnership (CET Partnership), i.e. EU contribution in WP 2023-2024.
The second instalment of the partnership is expected to contribute to expected outcomes specified in topic HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04: Clean Energy Transition, for continuation and new development of activities.
The partnership is expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Increased directionality of clean energy transition research and innovation in Europe in line with the SET Plan by a shared pan-European vision regarding the goal and direction of the required system transformation processes adapted to regional needs and availability of renewable energy resources.
- Evidence based energy and climate policy formulation.
- A wider systemic transition and energy supply required for the climate transition in all sectors of society; enabling the transition of the built environment, transport, industry and other sectors to clean, low carbon energy.
- An innovation ecosystem for Europe's transition to clean energy and contribute to a resource-efficient energy system, both from an ecological and economic standpoint.
- A building block to a zero-emission energy system for the decarbonisation of transport, buildings, industry, agriculture in the specific European environment.
- Increased engagement of consumers and prosumers and in appropriate demand-response mechanisms and its integration in the energy system.
- And finally, an energy system that meets the needs of different parts of society, in different geographical locations (urban and rural) and different groups.
Scope:
The Clean Energy Transition co-funded Partnership (CET Partnership) is a transnational initiative on joint R&I programming to boost and accelerate the energy transition, building upon regional and national R&I funding programmes.
It aims at empowering the energy transition and contribute to the EU’s goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, by pooling national and regional R&I funding for a broad variety of technologies and system solutions required to make the transition. It will foster transnational innovation ecosystems from the very local and regional level, up to the transnational European level, thus overcoming a fragmented European landscape. The CET Partnership enables national and regional R&I programme owners and managers from Member States and Associated Countries to align their priorities and implement annual joint calls from 2022 to 2027. They also organise joint accompanying activities to enable a dynamic learning process, extract strategic knowledge and maximise the impact to accelerate the upscaling, replication and market diffusion of innovative solutions. This will foster the up-take of cost-effective clean energy technologies.
The common vision of the CET Partnership is already manifested in its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) that has been co-created with the involved countries, the EU SET Plan Implementation Working Groups and ETIPs, all energy relevant ERA-Nets as well as the EERA joint programmes (over 500 editors, co-authors, commenters and discussants). The SRIA articulates the common goal of (1) building a transnational transformative Joint Programming Platform, (2) developing and demonstrating technology and solutions for the transition of energy systems, and finally (3) building innovation ecosystems that support capacity building at all levels.
The objective of this action is to continue to provide support to the European Clean Energy Transition Co-fund Partnership identified in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024 and first implemented under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04, and in particular to fund additional activities (which may also be undertaken by additional partners) in view of its intended scope and duration, and in accordance with Article 24(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation.
The consortium which applied to and received funding under HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04 is uniquely placed to submit a proposal to continue the envisioned partnership. Not only did this consortium submit the proposal leading to the identification of the partnership in the Horizon Europe strategic planning 2021-2024, it has also implemented the partnership through a co-funded call in 2022 and a second call is planned for 2023 in line with the HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04 Clean Energy Transition topic. It is also relevant that the same consortium was responsible for carrying out related co-fund actions in the field of clean energy under the Horizon 2020 predecessor programme. In this context, the current consortium has particular expertise in relation to the objectives of the Partnership, to the activities to be implemented, and to other relevant aspects of the co-fund action. In practice, another consortium could not continue the activities of the Partnership underway without significant disruption to the ongoing activities, if at all.
The new geopolitical and energy market realities require to drastically accelerate the clean energy transition and increase energy independence from unreliable suppliers and volatile fossil fuels. In support to the objectives of REPowerEU[1] it is expected that the partnership explores pathways and develop new actions to reinforce R&I investments accelerating the clean energy transition and to reinforce the utilisation of R&I results.
It is expected that the European Clean Energy Transition Co-fund Partnership considers also to reinforce the ambition of the planned 2023 joint call and will continue the implementation of its SRIA by setting up joint calls in 2024 and 2025. The partnership can consider to set-up also joint calls without co-funding of from the Union.
Taking into account that the present action is a continuation of the topic HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04 and foresees an amendment to an existing grant agreement, the proposal should also present in a separate document the additional activities (which may include additional partners) to be covered by the award in terms of how they would be reflected in the grant agreement.
While the award of a grant to continue the Partnership in accordance with this call should be based on a proposal submitted by the coordinator of the consortium funded under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2021-D3-01-04 and the additional activities (which may include additional partners) to be funded by the grant should be subject to an evaluation, this evaluation should take into account the existing context and the scope of the initial evaluation as relevant, and related obligations enshrined in the grant agreement.
The Commission envisages to include new actions in its future work programmes to provide continued support to the partnership for the duration of Horizon Europe.
Specific Topic Conditions:
The total indicative budget for the co-funded European Partnership is EUR 210 million for the period 2021-2027.
[1]REPowerEU: affordable, secure and sustainable energy for Europe | European Commission (europa.eu)
