[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

December 1, 2026 (Full application submission deadline)

€13,500,000 total; typical grant €6,750,000; 2 grants expected; single-stage

Funds demonstration of sustainable regional solid biofuel supply chains and high-efficiency CHP conversion, emphasizing innovation, environmental sustainability, and local value creation.

--- ## Description This European Commission grant supports projects that demonstrate the full regional value chain for sustainable solid biofuels—sourced from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes—for use in high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The aim is to enable continuous, cost-effective, and low-emission operation of CHP plants while ensuring socio-economic and environmental sustainability. Projects should address the entire value chain, from innovative biomass preprocessing and upgrading technologies to advanced supply chains, and must involve relevant stakeholders such as feedstock providers (e.g., farmers, foresters, municipalities). Key considerations include: - Minimizing negative ecosystem impacts and ensuring compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive - Ensuring replicability, scalability, and knowledge transfer to bioeconomy stakeholders - Strengthening local industrial ecosystems and fostering local value and job creation - Including social sciences and humanities (SSH) expertise and adopting gender-sensitive and intersectional approaches to assess and enhance socio-economic impacts Proposals must include at least one demonstration of a regional value chain with verified fuel quality and GHG/air-pollutant reduction in an operational CHP plant (10–30 MWe). Projects are encouraged to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by including Ukrainian value chains and/or beneficiaries. --- ## Due Dates - December 1, 2026: Full application submission deadline (17:00 Brussels time) --- ## Funding Amount - Total available budget: €13,500,000 - Indicative grant size: approximately €6,750,000 per project - Expected number of grants: 2 - Funding mechanism: Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), single-stage --- ## Eligibility - Open to legal entities (public or private) from eligible countries as described in [Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - Proposals must include relevant stakeholders across the value chain, including feedstock providers - Projects must demonstrate compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive, including sustainability, cascading use, and exclusion of negative impacts on biodiversity, soil, and water - Inclusion of SSH (social sciences and humanities) expertise is required - Collaboration with Ukrainian partners is encouraged but not mandatory --- ## Application Process - Single-stage submission via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-05?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=5&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - Application form and templates are available in the [Submission System](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-05?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=5&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - Detailed guidance, eligibility, and evaluation criteria are outlined in the [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) and [General Annexes](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - Proposals must include exploitation and dissemination plans with a strong business case and scalability strategy --- ## Additional Information - Projects must address long-term base load operation scenarios and provide comprehensive life cycle analysis - Biomass fuels should primarily derive from residues and wastes, with innovative preprocessing/upgrading technologies - Proposals should avoid site-specific solutions and enhance replicability through collaboration with bioenergy clusters - Projects are encouraged to estimate GHG and air pollutant reduction potential using Innovation Fund methodologies --- ## External Links - [Call Details and Application Submission](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-05?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=5&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - [General Annexes (Eligibility, Evaluation, Conditions)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - [Online Manual (Application Procedures)](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) - [National Contact Points](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General Enquiries | [European Commission Contact](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | Research Enquiries | [Research Enquiry Service](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en) | | IT/Portal Support | [IT Helpdesk](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/helpdesks/contact-form) | | Phone | +32 2 299 11 11 |

Demonstration of solid biofuel supply and conversion to high efficiency CHP from fully sustainable regional value chains - European Commission

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