HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28

Community of practice - Data-Driven Decision-Making in Energy

Status
forthcoming
Programme
Horizon Europe (HORIZON)
Action type
HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
Opens
4 Aug 2027
Deadline
1 Dec 2027
Fetched
15 Jul 2026, 07:18 UTC
Plain-language summary

Build a community of practice for data-driven decision-making in European energy grids focusing on AI, open-source tools, and RES integration.

This call supports coordination actions to enhance cooperation among energy sector stakeholders. It aims to develop and share data-driven tools and methodologies for managing European electricity grids with high renewable energy shares. Projects will promote open-source solutions, AI applications, and FAIR data practices across the energy value chain.

Likely relevant for

  • Energy sector researchers and academia
  • Grid operators and energy infrastructure managers
  • Technology providers in energy digitalization
  • Energy market analysts and service providers
  • Organizations promoting open-source software in energy

Project signals

Focus on European electricity grid planning and operationUse of data-driven and AI-powered solutionsCollaboration across energy value chain stakeholdersDevelopment of open-source tools and repositoriesAlignment with BRIDGE initiative activities

What it funds

  • Coordination and cooperation among key energy value chain actors
  • Development and maintenance of data and analytics tools for grid planning and operation
  • Creation of innovation hubs for digitalization in energy
  • Building open-source repositories and methodologies for energy simulations and forecasting
  • Promotion of AI-enabled systems and digital twins in energy management
  • Support for FAIR data practices and open-source collaboration

Expected outcomes

  • Enhanced EU cooperation on data and analytics for grid planning and market integration
  • Better coordination on simulation tools for electricity grids and RES integration
  • New open-source solutions supporting grid development and RES integration
  • Improved EU-wide cooperation on innovative data-driven energy solutions including AI
  • Support for maintaining research results FAIR beyond project end
  • Promotion of open-source practices fostering industrialization of shared methods and standards

Who can apply / participate

  • Research organizations
  • Academic institutions
  • Energy sector companies
  • Technology providers
  • Coordination and support action consortia
  • Single-stage submission
  • Consortium composition details must be checked in the call documents
  • Eligible countries as per Horizon Europe Annex B
  • Non-EU/non-associated countries may have specific eligibility conditions
  • Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data if satellite-based earth observation is involved
  • Subject to EU communication network protection restrictions
  • Financial and operational capacity requirements apply
  • Exact consortium size and partner roles
  • Specific eligibility of third-country participants

Must check before shortlisting

  • Eligibility of applicant types and countries
  • Specific consortium composition requirements
  • Budget and lump sum funding conditions

Money

Total budget of approximately EUR 6 million for one grant in 2027 under a lump sum funding model.

  • Maximum EU contribution — 6000000EUR
    Lump sum grant as per Horizon Europe lump sum decision

Application notes

  • Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Proposal page limits and layout as per Horizon Europe General Annexes
  • Eligibility and admissibility conditions per Horizon Europe rules
  • Use of Copernicus and Galileo data if applicable
  • Financial and operational capacity requirements
  • Prepare proposal following the specific application form for Coordination and Support Actions
  • Submit proposal by the deadline via the Funding & Tenders Portal
  • Ensure compliance with lump sum funding rules
  • Consult National Contact Points and support services for guidance
  • Check eligibility of participants especially for third countries
  • Adhere strictly to page limits and formatting
  • Ensure use of required satellite data if applicable
  • Understand lump sum funding implications

Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 22 Jun 2026, 15:44 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.

Related calls

These funding calls are closely related and may be worth considering as part of the same funding landscape.

Official source text

Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.

Topic description

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes: Enhanced EU cooperation to generate knowledge sharing on data and analytics used for the planning and operation of European grids, and market integration; Better EU coordination with regard to planning and simulation tools to support the development of electricity grids and integration of RES are made available to the research, academia, grid operators, and key actors in the energy value chains; Coordinated processes to generate new and innovative open-source solutions, software modules etc. that are added to the existing and/or new repositories that support the development of grids and integration of high shares of RES; Improved EU-wide cooperation and coordination of actions on developing and utilising innovative data-driven solutions for energy, including AI-powered tools. Support to researchers and research organizations to maintain their research results FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) beyond research project ending and accommodating for technology evolution. Promotion of opensource practices and collaboration across the energy sector value chain to foster the industrialization of shared methods and standards in and by the energy industry. Scope: Projects are expected to: Facilitate the coordination and cooperation of key actors in the energy value chains (e.g. grid operators, research and academia, providers of technologies and solutions, energy suppliers, providers of energy services traded on energy markets, representatives of consumers) to build a community of practice focused on developing and maintaining key tools and technologies for using data and analytics in planning, operating and maintaining the European electricity grids, while actively managing high shares of RES in the system; Involve, cooperate with, and/or build synergies with major European and international initiatives and groupings that are active in this field; Create a European ecosystem of innovation hubs that bring together key stakeholders in the energy sector to collaborate on digitalization projects, providing a space for experimentation and agile innovation; Showcase targeted cooperation between grid operators and research & academia for implementing specific projects and/or programmes; Build blueprints, methodologies, and repositories of open-source solutions for enhanced simulations, observation, forecasting, infrastructure asset management, and decision-making in energy with a view to reduce the overall costs of system operation; Promote the use of modern solutions, such as digital twins and AI-enabled systems. Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative [1] and actively participate in its activities. [1] https://bridge-smart-grid-storage-systems-digital-projects.ec.europa.eu/

Destination

This Destination includes activities targeting a sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply. In line with the scope of cluster 5, this includes activities in the areas of renewable energy; energy system, grids and storage; as well as Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). This Destination contributes directly to the Strategic Plan’s Key Strategic Orientations ‘ Green transition ’, ‘ Digital transition ’ and ‘ A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe ’. In line with the Strategic Plan, the overall expected impact of this Destination is to contribute to the ‘Ensuring more sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply through solutions for smart energy systems based on renewable energy solutions’ . This destination contributes to the activities of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) and its implementation working groups. The main impacts to be generated by topics under this Destination are: Renewable energy Energy producers have access to efficient and competitive European renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies with a solid knowledge base and are able to deploy them to enhance the EU’s energy security and reach its climate neutrality objectives, in a sustainable way in environmental (e.g., biodiversity, multiple uses of land and water, natural resources, pollution) and socioeconomic terms, and in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Technology providers have access to European, competitive, resilient, reliable, sustainable, and affordable value chains of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, and with strong export potential to supply both the EU internal and global markets. They benefit also from circular renewable energy technologies that are safe and sustainable by design with reduced and diversified external dependence on critical raw materials [1] . Economic sectors benefit from better integration of renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions that are, among others, competitive, cost-effective, efficient, flexible, reliable, and sustainable. Such integration is facilitated through digitalisation and integration of artificial intelligence of renewable energy technologies that provide network stability and reliability. European industries benefit from a reinforced export potential of renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies, also through international partnerships, and become more competitive in innovative renewable energy technologies in Europe and globally. European researchers benefit from a stronger community and from a reinforced scientific basis on renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies including emerging ones, also through international collaborations. European citizens have access to an energy market that is fair and equitable, more resilient, uses all different types of local renewable energy resources, and is less dependent on fossil fuels imports. Citizens experience less fuel and energy poverty, and also benefit from new employment and upskilling opportunities. Local communities benefit from a more decentralized, affordable, and secure energy system and from multiple uses of land and water. Energy systems, grids and storage R&I actions will support the just digital and green transformation of the energy system through advanced solutions for accelerating the energy systems integration and decarbonisation . The developed clean, sustainable solutions will contribute to making the energy system work better for actors and supply more reliable, resilient and secure energy – even under increasingly more frequent extreme climate events. The solutions developed will contribute to increase flexibility and grid hosting capacity for renewables through optimizing cross sector integration and grid scale storage as well as cover off-grid situations. They will improve the preparedness of the electricity system to support the EU's binding target for 2030 of minimum of 42.5% renewables in the gross final energy consumption (with the aspiration to reach 45%), and full decarbonisation by 2050. They will enable further electrification of demand and will enhance the competitiveness of the European value chain , reduce pressure on resources (also by making technologies ‘circular by design’) and decrease dependencies. Such solutions would also enable a better EU resilience to climate risks. The solutions will improve consumer awareness and engagement in the energy transition, via innovative offers and services (e.g. demand response, energy communities) and will target different types of consumers, including “hard to reach” population groups (such as energy poor or low-income households). This will result in increased trust in, and uptake of the new products and services entering the energy system. Carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) Accelerated deployment of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) as a CO2 emission mitigation option in electricity generation and/or in industry applications, as well as carbon dioxide removal for negative emissions. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes. [1] For an example of a methodology for the assessment of sustainability, circularity and contribution to EU resilience and technological autonomy of clean energy technology in the R&I pipeline, please see Study on circular approaches for a sustainable and affordable clean energy transition

Conditions and documents

General conditions

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.

described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].

described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions

described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

Support information

Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding. IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers. Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.

Raw budget overview
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