The EU’s third hydrogen auction is open for applications until February 19, 2026, alongside a pilot auction for the decarbonization of industrial process heat. The 2025 edition of the Net-Zero Technologies call is also ongoing and will accept applications until April 23, 2026. Together, the three funding streams have a budget of €5.2 billion ($6.07 billion).
The European Commission has opened three new financing options under the Innovation Fund.
The three funding calls have a combined budget of €5.2 billion in revenue from the EU Emissions Trading System.
They include the third auction among the European hydrogen bankhas designated a budget of €1.3 billion.
The opportunity will allocate funds for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), hydrogen, electrolytic low-carbon hydrogen and hydrogen projects with customers in the maritime or aviation sectors.
Projects selected through the auction will receive support in the form of a fixed premium payment upon verified and certified hydrogen production for a period of up to ten years.
The first European auction for the decarbonisation of industrial process heat is also underway.
The call, known as the IF25 Heat Auction, will be used to support the production of electrified and directly renewable heat, with up to €1 billion available. The European Commission finalized the auction details last month.
The hydrogen and heat auctions are open until February 19, 2026, with an information day for both auctions on December 10, 2025. Successful bidders are expected to sign grant agreements within nine months of the call closing.
The committee has also launched the Net-Zero Technologies (IF25 NZT) call for 2025 with an allocated budget of €2.9 billion. The call aims to bridge investment gaps and leverage public and private capital and supports decarbonization projects that demonstrate innovative technologies and processes with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects of different scales are eligible, covering different technologies, including the production of renewable energy components, energy storage, heat pumps, hydrogen production and batteries for electric vehicles.
The IF25 NZT is open for applications until April 23, 2026, with potential applicants encouraged to attend an information day on December 16, 2025. Successful applications are expected to sign grant agreements in the first quarter of 2027.
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