Demonstration of thermal energy storage solutions for solar thermal plants and systems

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-05

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: Cluster 5 Call 02-2026 (WP 2025) (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02)

Type of action: HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 16 September 2025

Deadline dates: 17 February 2026 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Project results are expected to contribute to some of the following expected outcomes:

• Significant reduction of LCOHS (Levelised Cost of Heat Storage) and/or LCOE (Levelised Cost of Energy);
• Technology providers profit from successful demonstration and de-risking of thermal energy storage solutions that improve the dispatchability of solar thermal plants and/or systems;
• Technology providers have improved access to financing through better understanding of the bankability of dispatchable solar thermal solutions;
• Electricity grid operators have access to reliable options to cope with the increase in the share of variable-output renewables and reduce curtailments;
• The execution of the solar thermal implementation plan of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is supported and facilitated;
• The execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda^[1] is supported and facilitated.

Support will be given to the demonstration of innovative thermal energy storage solutions in the following areas: (i) concentrated solar power (CSP) and/or (ii) solar thermal heat and/or cold.

The proposed solutions will have to achieve substantial improvements in terms of performance, cost-effectiveness and life span compared to the current state of the art.

The project must include a clear go/no-go milestone ahead of entering the demonstration phase. Before this go/no-go milestone, the project must deliver the detailed engineering plans, a techno-economic assessment, and all needed permits for the demonstrator. The project proposal is expected to present a clear and convincing pathway and timeline to obtaining the permits.

The project has to assess the sustainability of the proposed solutions in environmental and socio-economic terms. Furthermore, the Commission initiative for Safe and Sustainable by Design^[2] (SSbD) sets a framework for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials which should be considered as a reference for project proposals.

Plans for the exploitation and dissemination of results for proposals submitted under this topic are expected to include a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy. The exploitation plans are expected to include preliminary plans for scalability, commercialisation, and deployment (feasibility study, business plan) indicating the possible funding sources to be potentially used (in particular the Innovation Fund).

[1] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/3acfa717-b321-4f7d-b8c3-765f507d7de2_en?filename=ec_rtd_swd-2024-160-f1.pdf

[2] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/chemicals-and-advanced-materials_en

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

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