Pilot-E

Pilot-E — Flexibility and Carbon Capture

Runs research teams and institutions for Pilot E Flexibility and Carbon Capture in energy systems and climate technology.

Pilot-E is a joint fast-track funding program operated by Enova SF, Forskningsrådet (Research Council of Norway), Innovasjon Norge, Gassnova, and Siva to accelerate the development of new environmentally friendly energy technology products and services from early research through to commercialization. The program issues annual thematic calls, with the 2024 call focused on two technology areas: flexibility in the Norwegian power system and development of industrial carbon capture. A single Pilot-E application receives coordinated funding decisions covering the full development chain—research, demonstration, and commercialization—without requiring separate applications to each partner agency.

Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations operating in Norway. Each project consortium must include three to five members with a steering committee that includes end-user representation. Projects must define measurable milestones; failure to meet agreed milestones results in loss of eligibility for further funding tranches. The program structure means that end-users identified during the research and demonstration phases may qualify for separate Enova investment support when the technology reaches commercialization. Specific NOK award amounts are not published on the Enova Pilot-E program page and are determined jointly by the partner agencies on a per-call basis.

Pilot-E's thematic focus changes with each annual call, meaning the 2025 and 2026 call topics may differ from the 2024 focus on power flexibility and carbon capture. Applicants should monitor the Pilot-E program pages across all five partner agencies—Enova, Forskningsrådet, Innovasjon Norge, Gassnova, and Siva—for the current open call's thematic scope and submission deadlines, as calls are announced and managed jointly. The coordinated single-application structure makes Pilot-E one of the most efficient pathways for Norwegian clean-energy technology developers pursuing full-cycle public support.