Demonstration of battery energy storage systems in existing and new vessels via novel energy storage and ship design concepts (ZEWT Partnership)
Funds two projects, worth up to EUR 7.5 million each, extending fully electric ships' and river boats' operating range by 40% using new battery storage designs.
This is a single-stage Innovation Action: a consortium submits its proposal through the Funding & Tenders Portal's Submission System, using the standard Horizon Europe RIA/IA application form and a detailed budget table, before the deadline. The Commission expects to fund two projects from this topic, but the award isn't simply the two highest-ranked proposals overall -- a balanced-portfolio rule …
The Commission wants a full-scale demonstration of battery-electric propulsion that extends the operating range of large seagoing vessels (over 400 gross tonnage) or long inland river vessels (over 86 metres) by 40% against a 2024 baseline, reaching at least 120 nautical miles. Proposals should combine new onboard energy-storage concepts, energy-efficiency measures, battery-lifetime extension techniques or rapid in-route charging, and can target either newbuilds or retrofits. Proposals also have to include safety guideline recommendations that build on existing EMSA and CESNI battery-safety standards, plus replication case studies showing the same solution applied to at least two other waterborne applications. The topic also invites training material for seafarers and shore-based staff, and fast-charging or onshore power supply concepts have to work toward the IEC/IEEE standards still under development.
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