1. “HORIZON-CL5-2025-01-Two-Stage-D2-02: Cost-effective next-generation batteries for long-duration stationary storage (Batt4EU Partnership)” çağrısı ile ilgili gelen soruya Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından verilen cevabı aşağıda bulabilirsiniz.

Question: Are non-electrochemical storage technologies in scope?

  • Reply: This topic only addresses only electrochemical storage. Therefore, all non-electrochemical storage technologies are out of scope.

  1. “HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-07: Innovative construction and maintenance, with the use of new materials and techniques, for resilient and sustainable transport infrastructure” çağrısı ile ilgili gelen sorulara Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından verilen cevabı aşağıda bulabilirsiniz.

In relation to the text in scope “Validation of all the proposed solutions and proofs of concepts is to be carried out in at least two large-scale demonstrations. The demonstrations should cover at least two different transport infrastructure types (e.g., road, rail, waterborne, airport) which are located on at least two different Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors. The demonstrations should also cover different environments and phases of the infrastructure life cycle (e.g. design, construction, maintenance, decommissioning).”

Question 1: Are nodes of the TEN-T network also included, and which structures are considered part of the nodes?

  • Reply: Urban nodes are part of the TEN-T and their components, which include ports, are defined in article 40 of the Regulation (EU) 2024/1679. As per Article 42, first and last mile connections between and to the access points to the trans-European transport network may include also metros or tramways. The selection of the transport infrastructure types, which will be part of the large demonstrations, will have to be justified in the proposal.

 Question 2: For the demonstrators, do we need to cover all phases of the infrastructure life cycle, or is it acceptable to focus on at least two of them?

  • Reply: While the topic text states that the projects should cover the entire life cycle of transport infrastructures, the specific bullet point on the validation of all the proposed solutions and proofs of concepts mentions that the demonstrations should cover different environments and phases of the infrastructure life cycle. Therefore, it is up to the proposals to explain which phases will be demonstrated and their rationale.

Question 3: Are Health and safety issues especially for repair and maintenance topics important as well? 

  • The focus of the topic is on innovative solutions for sustainability and resilience along the entire life cycle of the transport infrastructures. Health and safety issues should be addressed as long as they are justified by the proposed solutions.

Question 4:  Are there any preferred LCA methodologies, indicators, or environmental product declaration (EPD) frameworks to be followed to ensure compatibility with EU policy or ongoing standardization efforts?

  • The topic does not mandate any specific methodology or framework, therefore any choice should be duly substantiated in the proposal.

Question 5:  Does the call focus only on traditional LCA approach or also some unification towards carbon footprint according to the requirements of EU taxonomy and ESRS standards is expected?

  • As mentioned above, the topic does not prescribe any specific methodology so that the approach adopted by the applicants has to be duly justified in the proposal.

  1. A question on Societal Readiness pilot topics in Work Programme 2025:

We have received a questions on Societal Readiness pilot topics in Work Programme 2025:

Question: Can an entity participating in a Societal Readiness pilot topic also participate in the CSA for monitoring and evaluation and vice versa?

  • Reply: There is no specific eligible criterion as regards organisations’ participation in both the monitoring and evaluation CSA and other Societal Readiness pilot topics. However, participating in the monitoring and evaluation CSA and in other SR pilot topics in parallel would give raise to potential conflict of interest which must be avoided, i.e. the relevant organisations should put in place measures that address the potential conflicts of interest, so that they acts as a neutral broker vis à vis all SR pilot projects.

 

  1. “HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-10 Innovative solutions for energy conversion and safety of low and zero-carbon fuels in waterborne transport (ZEWT Partnership)” çağrısı ile ilgili gelen soruya Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından verilen cevabı aşağıda bulabilirsiniz.

Question 1: Does the requirement “Development of parameters ensuring technical compatibility between the fuel and energy conversion system” mean that mechanical components should be able to handle chemicals introduced by using new fuels?

  • Reply: The requirement asks for the development of parameters addressing all relevant items ensuring the technical compatibility between the fuel and energy conversion system taking into consideration all aspects in the scope. The parameters should be developed considering at least: i) the materials and components used in construction, ii) the safety of the power conversion system and its integration on-board, and iii) the reduction of GHG and air pollutant emissions.

 Question 2: Does combined power output include hypothetical power generation solutions composed by 3MW PEMFC + 3 MWh batteries?

  • Reply: By “combined power output”, the topic refers to the total power installed coming from one single type of power conversion system, but which could have several similar sub-systems installed. For instance, when the topic says, “Fuel cell solutions are expected to deliver results that will reach a combined power output of at least 5 MW”, there are no single 5MW marinized fuel cells stacks on the market that can be installed off the shelf, so we expect that several FC stacks will be installed. The total power output of the series of stacks should be then at least 5MW.

 Question 3: Would a solution be eligible where the 55% of overall energy efficiency from fuel energy to shaft propulsion is reached including the heat recovery derived from the thermal power produced by the generation system selected (regardless Area A or Area B)?

  • Reply: Yes.

 

  1. “HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-11: Demonstration of battery energy storage systems in existing and new vessels” çağrısı ile ilgili gelen soruya Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından verilen cevabı aşağıda bulabilirsiniz.

Question: There is a confusing point in the list of requirements in the scope part.

  • Reply: There was a formatting mistake unnoticed at the time of publication. The 4 bullet points following the text “Solutions are expected to include one or more of the following:” should be considered as sub-bullet points, as appears in the following text. 

  • Innovative measures for range extension, which should go beyond the simple scaling up of existing commercial battery systems to increase the range. Solutions are expected to include one or more of the following:
    • New onboard energy storage system concepts enabling high energy-densities suitable for different waterborne applications;
    • Innovative onboard energy efficiency measures including but not limited to, thermal management, electrical architecture, high voltage electrical components, energy management and energy modelling for optimal operation including weather routing, integration of renewable energy technologies (e.g. photovoltaic panels, wind-assisted propulsion), and improved vessel hydrodynamic efficiency; 
    • Concepts for extending the operating lifetime of batteries through advanced architecture, onboard monitoring, control, and analytics; 
    • Concepts for rapid in-route charging or battery replenishment while maintaining desired operating schedules. Fast charging and onshore power supply (OPS) concepts should adhere to the IEC/IEEE standards which are under development, and the consortium is expected to liaise with the technical committee in IEC/IEEE and converge technical solution with standard under development. Other solutions enabling intermittent in-route power transfer to vessels may also be demonstrated.

All other bullet points after that are required. 

  1. “HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-15: Optimal integrated onboard renewable energy solutions, by considering Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (ZEWT Partnership)” çağrısı ile ilgili gelen soruya Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından verilen cevabı aşağıda bulabilirsiniz.

Question: The requirements include a demonstrator, but it does not explicitly mention the minimum size of the vessel. However, in the expected outcomes, it is said “The methodology is expected to allow integration of wind energy used in propulsion of ships directly into calculations of GHG intensity of the energy used on-board, both in context of Fuel EU maritime and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Life Cycle assessment (LCA) guidelines”, which to some may be interpreted as like the vessel should be at least 5000 GT, although others interpret it as that the demo ship may be smaller as long as it will provide relevant insights and data for future improvements of the regulations. Any advice regarding this?

  1. Reply: The scope of the topic requires in the first bullet-point describing the  aspects to be addressed that “(t)his demonstration will be used to also validate the methodology for integration of the energy provided by the WAP devices to the ship propulsion”. Therefore, the characteristics of the full-scale demonstrator should comply with the vessels covered by the FuelEU maritime Regulation and the IMO LCA guidelines (eg. ships above 5000 GT).

     

  2. Question on the gender balance criterion in Work Programme 2025:

    Question: On which “type” of researchers is the gender ratio based? And how is the “leading role” defined?

    Reply:  Annex F for WP 2023-2024 states "...the gender balance among the researchers named in the researchers table in the proposal will be used as a factor for prioritisation;"

Annex for WP 2025, states "... the gender balance among the researchers with a leading role named in the researchers table in the proposal, will be used as a factor for prioritisation."

So, for WP 2023-2024 the ex aequo criterion relates to the gender balance in research teams (independently of their leading role). The change to the gender balance in lead researchers (in the project, calculated for the whole consortium) applies to calls under WP 2025 and onwards. The leading role could be both the task leader and work package leader, as long as they are declared as having a leading role in the researchers table in the proposal template.

 

Benzer güncel soru-cevap bilgilerine ayrıca belirli bir süre sonra ilgili çağrının Funding and Tenders Portal sayfasındaki linkte “Topic Q&A’s” kısmında yayımlanmaktadır. İlgili soru-cevaplara ayrıca websayfamız üzerindeki  “EC tarafından Küme 5 Çalışma Programındaki Çağrılara İlişkin Yapılan Açıklamalar” başlığından da erişebilirsiniz.