The European Commission has announced €2.9 billion in funding for 61 projects focused on cutting-edge zero-emission technologies. The funds are provided through the Innovation Fund and come from revenues generated by the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The grant funding is the result of the first call for zero-emission projects (IF24 Call), launched in December 2024. Its aim is to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership and accelerate the deployment of innovative decarbonization solutions.

The selected projects cover 19 industrial sectors, 18 countries, and include initiatives of varying scale, underscoring the EU’s ambition to achieve decarbonization through a wide range of technologies and applications. The main focus is on energy-intensive industries, renewable energy sources and energy storage systems, sustainable mobility and zero-emission buildings, clean technology manufacturing, and carbon emissions management in the industrial sector.

The winning projects have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is expected that around 221 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent will be saved during the first decade of their operation — an amount comparable to the annual emissions of around 9.9 million average European cars.

The developers of the approved projects are invited to start the phase of preparing the grant agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). During this stage, the Commission and the selected applicants will finalize the grant agreement, including confirmation of the budget, timetable, technical objectives, and legal commitments. The process is expected to be completed and the results confirmed in the first half of 2026.

The Commission is preparing to launch the next calls for applications for funding from the Innovation Fund in early December 2025.

Short description of the approved projects: here