PV based electrification of the economy: Designing & optimising PV systems supporting industrial electrification and promoting participation in electricity markets (EUPI-PV Partnership)
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies and research organisations designing and optimising photovoltaic systems with storage, high-voltage architectures and electricity market integration for industrial electrification.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, research org, university.
- Amount
- €6M per projectTotal budget €18,000,000
- Deadline
- 01 Dec 2027 01:00 CETin 403 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 4 Aug 2027
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Large PV systems such as utility scale PV are evolving towards higher voltage architecture (>=3kV) with the objective to minimize losses and improve system efficiency at lower costs. The intention is to integrate also storage into such (hybrid) PV systems offering flexibility. It is consequently essential to build a blueprint for the implementation of high voltage large PV systems and the development of Direct Current (DC) networks around strategic end users for high voltage demand (industrial sites, servers, electric vehicle charging stations…). Understanding the factors that influence the performance and economics of these system architectures will help system planners evaluate the potential benefits of such hybrid resources that could support an increasing future industrial electrification. Another crucial challenge to address in ensuring the continued growth of new investments in solar PV, is the increasing occurrence of zero or negative prices in the electricity market, which dramatically hurt the profitability of operating solar PV assets. To tackle this challenge, PV participation to ancillary services is a way forward, which would reduce significantly system operating costs and PV curtailment and improve system reliability and PV profitability. The coupling/pooling with other generation assets or storage/demand assets is also to be considered.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes as indicated for the proposed scope (high voltage DC PV systems or PV participation in electricity markets):
Scope 1: High-voltage DC PV systems:
• Highly efficient PV systems, optimal utilisation of generated PV electricity, energy savings;
• Decreased levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) and affordable electricity for industrial users.
Scope 2: PV participation in electricity markets:
• Increased social profitability of PV by participation to ancillary services;
• Energy efficient, cost competitive and flexible contribution of PV systems to the energy markets.
All proposals are expected to support the execution of the solar energy joint research and innovation agenda.
Scope:
Proposals are expected to cover at least one of the following scopes:
Scope 1: High-voltage DC PV systems:
• Design higher voltage system architectures and evaluate the efficiency benefit;
• Develop the blueprint for an AC (Alternating Current)/DC hybrid solution for managing end user loads, achieving high levels of efficiency;
• Demonstrate a high voltage >3kV operating in DC grids for industrial installations hybrid system;
• Investigate the impact of higher voltage on PV modules.
Scope 2: PV participation in electricity markets:
• Demonstrate integrated management of PV generators for dynamic and/or nodal pricing;
• Pool PV with other consumption/production assets to participate in balancing mechanisms; assess the viability of these systems and demonstrate business models and financing schemes;
• Demonstrate reliability, procurement driven risk mitigation and better system availability through digitalization.
Whenever the expected exploitation of project results entails developing, creating, manufacturing and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, the plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results must include a strategy for such exploitation as well as a strong business case and sound exploitation strategy. The exploitation plan should 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).
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on the results to the European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics (EUPI-PV) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- High-voltage photovoltaics
- Direct-current networks
- Hybrid photovoltaic storage
- Industrial electrification
- Electricity market participation
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Consortium required
- Yes
Unless the exact topic-specific conditions provide otherwise, this action requires three independent beneficiary legal entities established in three different countries: at least one in an EU Member State and at least two others in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Affiliated entities do not count toward the minimum. Topic-specific required organisation types, applicant restrictions, and exceptions recorded elsewhere in this packet remain applicable; this baseline does not replace them.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme specifies Innovation Action as the action type for this topic.
- Other condition
- Entities established in eligible countries but directly/indirectly controlled by China (or China-established legal entities) cannot participate where this topic invokes the critical-technology restriction.
- Other condition
- The topic aims at efficient, high-voltage DC PV systems supporting industrial electrification and/or PV participation in electricity markets, including ancillary services, to improve social profitability, flexibility, efficiency and competitiveness.
- Other condition
- Technology Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – Readiness Level see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
- Other condition
- Work Programme call table lists an indicative EU contribution of around EUR 6,000,000 per project and an indicative 3 project(s) expected to be funded. The amount and count are indicative, not guarantees or hard recipient caps.
- Other condition
- The granting authority may, up to four years after action end, object to results ownership transfer or exclusive licensing under the specific Annex 5 provision.
- Other condition
- Where satellite data/services are used, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other services may also be used.
- Other condition
- Proposals must address at least one of two scopes: (1) high-voltage DC PV systems, including architecture/efficiency, AC/DC hybrid load management, >3 kV DC grid demonstrations, and impacts of higher voltage on PV modules; or (2) PV participation in electricity markets, including dynamic/nodal pricing, pooling with consumption/production assets for balancing, viability/business models/financing, and digital reliability/risk mitigation/availability. Conditional exploitation plans and EUPI-PV reporting apply as stated in the topic.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximumExpected end-of-project target upper endpoint, not a hard maximum
- 8 TRL level
Work Programme wording is “expected to achieve”; activities may start at any TRL. This is an expected target range, not a prohibited higher result.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimumExpected end-of-project target lower endpoint, not a mandatory minimum at project end
- 6 TRL level
Work Programme wording is “expected to achieve”; activities may start at any TRL. The endpoints are not hard grant eligibility thresholds.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €18,000,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost limit
- 25 percent flat rate of eligible direct costs, subject to the base exclusions in conditions
Horizon Europe General Annex G describes a 25% indirect-cost flat rate on eligible direct costs, excluding eligible direct subcontracting costs, financial support to third parties, and any unit costs or lump sums that include indirect costs. For HORIZON-AG actual-cost grants this is a cost-calculation rule, not a grant-rate increase. For HORIZON-AG-LS it informs the underlying eligible-cost estimate only; it is not an additional payment on top of the fixed lump sum. The topic indicative allocation and per-project contribution are distinct from this cost rate.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 70 percent of eligible costs (general Innovation Action maximum for non-profit status not established)
The exact Work Programme labels this topic an Innovation Action. General Annex G sets a 70% maximum for legal entities other than non-profit entities; the separate nonprofit maximum is represented in its own typed fact. This is an action-type maximum, not a guarantee or the topic-level indicative EU contribution; the final rate is fixed in the grant agreement. For the lump-sum topics, the rate is already applied in the lump-sum methodology and is not an extra multiplier.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 100 percent of eligible costs (up to; nonprofit legal entities only)
Only for a non-profit legal entity, the general Innovation Action maximum may be up to 100%; this is not automatic or a salary entitlement, and final funding parameters are fixed in the grant agreement. For the lump-sum topics, the percentage is embedded in the lump-sum amount methodology and is not an extra multiplier.
- Expected contribution per projectCommission-estimated EU contribution per project for this exact topic
- €6,000,000
The Work Programme says this amount would allow outcomes to be addressed appropriately but expressly does not preclude proposals requesting other amounts. It is not a minimum, maximum or award promise.
- Topic allocationExact Work Programme topic allocation, not per-project funding
- €18,000,000
The call table marks the budget indicative and subject to availability of Union appropriations; it is not a guaranteed grant or per-beneficiary amount.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are underlying personnel-cost estimate categories only where eligible in the applicable lump-sum methodology; they do not mean separate actual-payroll reimbursement. The source does not establish vacancies, salary amounts, headcount, or hiring decisions. MGA A.2/A.3 requires assignment to the action, employee-like working conditions, result ownership by the beneficiary unless otherwise agreed, and a rate based on actual incurred costs not significantly different from similar employee tasks.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are underlying personnel-cost estimate categories only where eligible in the applicable lump-sum methodology; they do not mean separate actual-payroll reimbursement. The source does not establish vacancies, salary amounts, headcount, or hiring decisions. MGA A.1 covers personnel working for the beneficiary under an employment contract or equivalent appointing act and assigned to the action; salary components follow Article 6.2 A.1.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are underlying personnel-cost estimate categories only where eligible in the applicable lump-sum methodology; they do not mean separate actual-payroll reimbursement. The source does not establish vacancies, salary amounts, headcount, or hiring decisions. Only SME owners not receiving a salary or natural-person beneficiaries not receiving a salary are covered; declared as Annex 2a unit costs, subject to general eligibility conditions.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 4 Aug 2027
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-07 · ENERGY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.