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This round is closed. The next round and similar open calls are listed below. Synced from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal on 9 November 2026.
This call is closed. These open or upcoming calls fund the closest work.
Based on projects the EU funded on the same subject in this programme.
LtALighter Than Aire Hydrogen Valley
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01 · 2026 · Official record ↗
PYRAH2Pyrolytic Renewable Approach for Hydrogen and Carbon Production: Efficient Transformation of Biogenic Wastes into Hydrogen and High-Value Solid Carbon for New Industrial Value Chains
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-01-06 · 2026 · Official record ↗
HiWhyVHigh Coast to West Coast Hydrogen Valley
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-01 · 2026 · Official record ↗
FlHyPortsFlemish Hydrogen Ports Valley
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-06-02 · 2026 · Official record ↗
PermittHyTraining Permitting Staff in Hydrogen Techologies
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-05-03 · 2026 · Official record ↗
CRYOSTARCertification Roadmap to Yield an Optimal and Safety methodology of crashworthiness for an integrated cryogenic Tank for liquid hydrogen storAge on board of future aiRcraft
HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2025-03-FTA-02 · 2025 · Official record ↗
CAVENDISHConsortium for the AdVent of aero-Engine Demonstration and aircraft Integration Strategy with Hydrogen
HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2022-01-HPA-01 · 2023 · Official record ↗
H2SCOREHydrogen Storage and Fuel Cells for Optimised Renewable Energy Communities
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2025-04-01 · 2025 · Official record ↗
Each one links to its EU funding record and the partners it works with: a starting list for building a consortium.
Current existing natural gas grids are expected to form a substantial part of the future hydrogen transport and distribution system. Current industry initiatives such as the European Hydrogen Backbone Initiative of major TSOs and Ready4H2[1] of the European DSOs is showcasing how this could progress.
While the work to assure the integrity of the pipelines and components in the grid have progressed in previous projects and activities, the main focus has been on onshore infrastructure. Offshore pipelines have specific design rules and different operating conditions and cannot be excavated for maintenance or service purposes in the same manner as onshore pipes. This means that existing infrastructure should maintain longer, without service or exchange of segments. The consequences of fatigue and cracks could endanger the complete business case of the pipeline. Similarly, it is very expensive to retrieve inspections tools if they get stuck and this situation should be avoided by design and by the way of operating and handling the tool. Also, the offshore pipelines have a larger diameter and are operated under higher pressure. Although, it is in the common interest of both onshore and offshore transport grid operators to have In-line Inspection tools that can operate in hydrogen pipelines, higher standards apply for the offshore use case. It has been observed that the most critical points in offshore pipeline integrity are the circumferential welds and seam welds. Therefore, their accurate detection is a key factor in advancing research on the repurposing of gas pipelines for hydrogen transport.
The integrity of offshore pipelines for hydrogen transport cannot currently be guaranteed due to hydrogen's detrimental effect on fracture toughness, ductility as well as the increase of fatigue crack growth rate, especially in regard to stress concentration areas and required performance of ILI-tools are not fully established.
The project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
Project results are expected to contribute to the objectives of the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA.
The scope of this topic is to demonstrate In-Line Inspection (ILI) tools to qualify existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen service and to operate in future offshore hydrogen pipelines (new or re-purposed) by validating that the tool is suitable for detecting crack-like defects, especially in stress concentration areas.
Proposals should consider and build on relevant existing work in this area and results from projects related to hydrogen integrity of high-pressure pipelines, ILI-systems and sensor development, such as from Pipeline Operator Forum (POF), European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG), Pipeline Research Conference International (PRCI) and including projects funded by the Clean Hydrogen JU such as HIGGS[2], SHIMMER[3], PilgrHYm[4], etc. and also relevant national projects on the topic, such as TransHyDe[5]. Successful projects are also expected to review the state of the art during their implementation and to identify additional synergies with these and other ongoing relevant projects.
Proposals should develop acceptance criteria for defects, considering the type and size of defects, loading conditions and hydrogen environment. This will be used to prove that inspection methods have sufficient probability of detection and sizing accuracy to ensure the integrity and to determine acceptance criteria for the inspection. Proposals should demonstrate the ability to detect or monitor crack-type defects with satisfactory resolution and detection probability through In-line Inspection (ILI) in offshore high-pressure pipelines, as well as safe and reliable operation of In-Line Inspection tools reaching TRL 6 or higher.
Validation consists of demonstration of the increased performance of the ILI-tools by conducting test-runs in high pressure pipelines.
The validation should be conducted in a hydrogen environment but may take place onshore. Detection results, modus operandi and the in-line inspection device, as such, should be prepared and as far as possible qualified to operate in the hydrogen conditions of the future offshore pipelines, while the dimensions of the tool may be different. The development should consider the securement of the needed material integrity and safety of operation, while also considering the costs of the tool and inspections of the relevant stakeholders. In order to be able to fulfil this scope, proposals should include at least one In-Line-Inspection tool provider and one gas transport grid operator.
The following aspects are to be addressed in the scope of the project:
For additional elements applicable to all topics please refer to section 2.2.3.2
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 6 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.
The JU estimates that an EU contribution of maximum EUR 3.50 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 6 by the end of the project - see General Annex B.
[1] https://www.ready4h2.com/
[2] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/875091
[3] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101111888
[4] https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101137592
[5] https://www.get-h2.de/en/geth2-transhyde/
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
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.
Page limit for Innovation Actions: For all Innovation Actions the page limit of the applications are 70 pages.
2. 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.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Additional eligibility condition: Maximum contribution per topic
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to limit the Clean Hydrogen JU requested contribution mostly for actions performed at high TRL level, including demonstration in real operational environment and with important involvement from industrial stakeholders and/or end users such as public authorities. Such actions are expected to leverage co-funding as commitment from stakeholders. It is of added value that such leverage is shown through the private investment in these specific topics. Therefore, proposals requesting contributions above the amounts specified per each topic below will not be evaluated
Additional eligibility condition: Membership to Hydrogen Europe / Hydrogen Europe Research
For the topics listed below, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, an additional an additional eligibility criterion has been introduced to ensure that one partner in the consortium is a member of either Hydrogen Europe or Hydrogen Europe Research. This concerns topics targeting actions for large-scale demonstrations, flagship projects and strategic research actions, where the industrial and research partners of the Clean Hydrogen JU are considered to play a key role in accelerating the commercialisation of hydrogen technologies by being closely linked to the Clean Hydrogen JU constituency, which could further ensure full alignment with the SRIA of the JU. This approach shall also ensure the continuity of the work performed within projects funded through the H2020 and FP7, by building up on their experience and consolidating the EU value-chain. In the Call 2026 this applies to: development and demonstration of flexible and standardised hydrogen storage systems and demonstration and operation of reversible solid oxide cell systems operation for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilisation. This will also apply to the Hydrogen Valleys (flagship) topics as they are considered of strategic importance for the European Union ambitions to double the number of Hydrogen Valleys by 2025 as well as to the more recent European Commission’s inspirational target to have at least 50 Hydrogen Valleys under construction or operational by 2030 across the entire EU. For the Hydrogen Valleys topics a large amount of co-investment/co-funding of project participants/beneficiaries including national and regional programmes is expected.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
STEP (Sovereignty) Seal
For the Hydrogen Valleys topics, as shown below, STEP Seal (so called “Sovereignty Seal” under the STEP Regulation) will be awarded to proposals exceeding all of the evaluation thresholds set out in this Annual Work Programme. The STEP Seal is a label, which aims to increase the visibility of quality projects available for funding and help attract alternative and cumulative funding for quality projects, and simultaneously to provide a potential project pipeline for regional and national programmes.
STEP (Sovereignty) Seal is applicable to the following topics:
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant agreement will apply:
1. Lump Sum
This year’s call for proposals will take the form of lump sums as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021- 2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025)[2].
Lump sums will be used across all topics in the Call 2026.
[2] DECISION authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) ls-decision_he_en.pdf (europa.eu)
2. Full capitalised costs for purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action
For some topics, in line with the Clean Hydrogen JU SRIA, mostly large-scale demonstrators or flagship projects specific equipment, infrastructure or other assets purchased specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks) can exceptionally be declared as full capitalised costs. This concerns the topics below:
3. Subcontracting
For all topics: an additional obligation regarding subcontracting has been introduced, namely that subcontracted work may only be performed in target countries set out in the call conditions.
The beneficiaries must ensure that the subcontracted work is performed in the countries set out in the call conditions.
The target countries are all Member States of the European Union and all Associated Countries.
4. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), background and results, access rights and rights of use (article 16 and Annex 5 of the Model Grant Agreement (MGA))
An additional information obligation has been introduced for topics including standardisation activities: ‘Beneficiaries must, up to 4 years after the end of the action, inform the granting authority if the results could reasonably be expected to contribute to European or international standards’. These concerns the topics below:
described in the chapter 2.2.3.2 of the Clean Hydrogen JU 2026 Annual Work Programme
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 RIA, IA)
Application form - Part B (HE CleanH2 CSA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
HE Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Lump Sum MGA
Call-specific instructions
Detailed budget table (HE LS) 
Clean Hydrogen JU - Annual Work Programme 2026 (AWP 2026)
 AWP 2026
Clean Hydrogen JU - Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) 
SRIA Clean Hydrogen JU
Lump Sums Guidance
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Comprehensive information on lump sum funding in Horizon Europe 
FAQ on Call HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026
FAQ Document
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual 
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions 
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.
View on EU portal ↗Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09
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