Onboard renewable energy solutions and energy saving measures to reduce the fuel consumption of ships by at least 55% (ZEWT Partnership)

Overview

Funding for full-scale demonstration projects that combine renewable energy solutions and energy-saving measures to reduce ship fuel consumption by at least 55% compared to 2008 levels. Targets shipowners, technology providers, and research organizations aiming to decarbonize waterborne transport through integrated, scalable, and certifiable solutions.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities established in eligible countries, including SMEs, large enterprises, research institutions, universities, and public bodies. Projects must involve shipowners or operators, technology providers, and other relevant stakeholders in the waterborne transport sector.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: 13,500,000 EUR per project.
• Funding is provided as a lump sum.
• Co-funding requirements align with Horizon Europe rules (typically 70% for research and innovation actions).

What Is Funded

• Full-scale demonstration of combined renewable energy solutions and energy-saving measures (e.g., hybrid propulsion, wind-assisted propulsion, hull optimization, air lubrication systems).
• Development of standardized frameworks for verifying energy efficiency improvements and interfacing with certification processes (e.g., FuelEU Maritime compliance).
• Digital solutions for energy optimization, data-driven decision-making, and seamless integration with ship automation and class-certification systems.
• Assessment of environmental benefits, including reduced GHG emissions, air and water pollutants, underwater noise, and life-cycle cost-effectiveness.
• Safety and operational impact analysis, including crew training, port infrastructure adaptation, and emergency response strategies.
• Addressing trade-offs between decarbonization and unintended pollution (e.g., NOx, black carbon, ammonia dispersion).

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• Projects must target Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 7 to 9, focusing on full-scale demonstration and market readiness.
• Solutions must be adaptable across different ship types, with a priority on retrofit applications.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-12-14
• Deadline: 2027-04-13T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Proposals must include a detailed budget table and adhere to page limits outlined in the call documentation.

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting on project results to the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership for monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Dissemination of findings and contributions to EU strategic autonomy in waterborne transport.
• Compliance with Horizon Europe’s lump sum funding rules, including financial and technical reporting.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Projects must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS for satellite-based data if applicable.
• Priority is given to shipyards, equipment manufacturers, and providers located or manufacturing in the EU/EEA.
• Proposals must address cybersecurity risks associated with data transfers for monitoring and optimization.