Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking or Clean Hydrogen Partnership is a unique public-private partnership supporting research and innovation (R&I) activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe. It builds upon the success of its predecessor, the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Standard gas turbine combustion technologies developed and optimised for ultra-low NOx emissions of lean premixed natural gas mixtures are not able to burn ammonia or ammonia-hydrogen blends within existing normative emission limits. Therefore, a paradigm shift is required to develop novel fuel-flexible combustion technologies that enable clean and efficient ammonia operation of gas turbines, as well as backup fuels as fallback solution.
In this context, the development of novel combustion systems for clean and efficient utilisation of NH3-based fuels in gas turbines should investigate, understand and solve challenges related to:
- poor flame stability due to low ammonia reactivity;
- significant NOx and N2O emissions due to oxidation of fuel-bound nitrogen;
- lethal levels of toxic compounds in the exhaust gas, as unburnt NH3 (ammonia slip) and HCN .
Detailed Call Description
The proposed project is expected to address the following areas of research and innovation to achieve the expected outcomes for NH3-based fuels.
- Improved chemical reactions kinetics for the oxidation of NH3-based fuels, including validation against available measurements of fundamental flame properties (flame speeds, ignition delay times, extinction strain rates), its pyrolysis and relevant emissions (NOx, N2O, NH3, HCN);
- Fundamental combustion properties of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar);
- Static flame stabilisation (flashback and blow-out characterisation and control) of premixed and non-premixed flames of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar);
- Dynamic flame stabilisation (characterisation and control of thermo-acoustic instabilities) of premixed and non-premixed flames of NH3-based fuels at high reactants temperature and pressure (minimum 10 bar);
- Design of novel injection schemes and staging strategies to enable clean (low emissions) and efficient (no unburnt fuel) combustion of NH3-based fuels;
- Demonstration of combustion concepts for NH3-based fuels and validation of combustion models in dedicated atmospheric and high-pressure combustion tests with full-scale engine combustor hardware (TRL 5);
- Advanced combustion models and combustor concepts enabling clean and efficient gas turbine operation with NH3-based fuels;
- Technological feasibility, safety and risk assessment for utilisation of NH3-based fuels in power generation, including the environmental, social and economic benefit/risk balance (e.g. evaluation of cost reduction and efficiency improvements vs consequences in case of accident).
The topic provides an excellent opportunity to enhance the maturity level of combustion of NH3-based fuels for power generating systems, enabling their widespread deployment and utilisation in the future energy system. In this regard non-proprietary fundamental experimental and numerical data should be made available after project completion to facilitate the development of future combustors.
Proposals should build upon and complement projects funded by the Clean Hydrogen JU such as Flex4H2, HyPowerGT, InsigH2t, ACHIEVE, ACCEPT.
International cooperation with entities with suitable expertise, interest, or facilities, from Countries which are neither EU Member States nor Horizon Europe Associated countries, is encouraged, in particular with the Japan’s[7] national research and development agency, NEDO[8] (see section 2.2.6.7 International Cooperation).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €5.00 million.
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Industry
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
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
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-03: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 5.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-01: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 17.00 million
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-02: The maximum Clean Hydrogen JU contribution that may be requested is EUR 8.00 million
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.
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-03
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-01
- HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-02
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.