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Source: EC Europa
Financed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), this round follows the first dedicated call for net-zero technologies (IF24 Call) launched in December 2024. The initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership in the clean energy transition and speed up the commercialisation of innovative climate solutions.
The selected projects cover 19 industrial sectors and 18 countries, representing a diverse mix of large-scale industrial sites and smaller, pioneering ventures. Together, they are expected to cut around 221 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent during their first decade of operation—roughly the same as the annual emissions of 9.9 million cars.
A Commission spokesperson said the investments show Europe’s commitment to climate leadership and industrial innovation.
These projects will not only reduce emissions but also boost Europe’s competitiveness and create thousands of quality jobs in the clean-tech sector.
the spokesperson noted
The developers of the 61 successful projects have been invited to begin the grant agreement preparation phase with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). This stage will finalise the budget, timetable, technical deliverables, and legal responsibilities for each project. The agreements are expected to be confirmed in the first half of 2026.
The Innovation Fund, backed by an estimated €40 billion from the EU ETS, is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for low-carbon technologies. It aims to leverage private investment in solutions that can deliver deep, scalable emission reductions and support the EU’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
This latest call attracted 359 applications requesting €21.7 billion in support—more than nine times the available budget—highlighting the maturity and dynamism of Europe’s net-zero technology sector. With this round, the Innovation Fund now supports over 270 projects, representing a total commitment of €15.6 billion.
In addition, the Commission has advanced other initiatives under the Fund, including the first call for electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing and the second renewable hydrogen auction under the European Hydrogen Bank. Grant agreements for these are expected to be signed before the end of 2025.
The next round of Innovation Fund calls is scheduled for early December 2025, further expanding support for Europe’s transition to a clean, resilient, and competitive net-zero economy.
The European Union’s renewable energy transition reached a historic milestone in 2025, driven by an unprecedented expansion of solar power and a massive spike in electric vehicle (EV) adoption. According to the latest quarterly market reports, the bloc is successfully stabilizing its energy markets while rapidly accelerating its green infrastructure.
A joint geothermal initiative in Vienna’s Aspern district has surpassed initial performance projections, paving the way for a massive expansion of sustainable district heating in the Austrian capital. Spearheaded by local utility Wien Energie and energy firm OMV, recent test drilling indicates the city's underground resources are hotter and more abundant than previously thought.
French energy group ENGIE has announced the development of its first hybrid energy project in Europe, co-locating wind energy generation with battery energy storage systems (BESS). The facility is being built in Băleni, Galați County, located in southeastern Romania.
The storage asset is being installed directly within ENGIE’s operational 50 MW Băleni wind farm, which has been active since 2013. The grid-connected battery will feature a power capacity of 5 MW and a storage capacity of 10 MWh, allowing it to deliver maximum electricity output to the grid for a continuous two-hour window. The unit is scheduled to be fully commissioned by the end of this year.