Development of hydropower equipment for improving techno-economic efficiency and equipment resilience in refurbishment situations
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
Project results are expected to contribute to at all of the following expected outcomes:
- Keeping the availability of the existing hydropower fleet with an important role in the future power market as flexible power suppliers.
- Increase technology leadership, competitiveness and technology export potential of European hydropower industry.
- Reduced cost and improved efficiency of refurbished hydropower installations.
- Enhanced sustainability of refurbished hydropower, taking fully into account and balancing between circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects in line with the European Green Deal priorities including energy and climate targets and biodiversity. Scope :
Development of hydropower equipment for improving techno-economic efficiency and equipment resilience in refurbishment situations of existing hydropower plants, which are outdated in respect of efficiency, power market interfacing, climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability, in particular also in respect of biodiversity. In scope are novel technologies, which improve the efficiency and economic parameters of existing hydropower plants during refurbishment without requiring substantial modification of the hydraulic system and by implementing circularity by design, e.g., low-friction and resistant materials and technical solutions that can minimize tear and wear in future operation modes. Solution should positively affect CAPEX and OPEX per kWh and also be compliant with improving the water quality of the underlying water body and in particular positively affect biodiversity. Socio-economic and environmental sustainability including SDGs, circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects should be addressed on a life cycle basis.
Specific Topic Conditions :
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
- Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual