Deadline Date: September 15, 2026
The European Commission has launched an open call for innovative technologies and solutions aimed at improving wind energy systems in alignment with the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, with the objective of accelerating research, development, and deployment of advanced wind energy innovations across Europe and beyond.
The focus areas of this call include advancing the SET Plan’s research and innovation priorities for wind energy, strengthening coordination and cooperation among stakeholders to avoid fragmentation of research efforts, improving the performance of wind energy technologies in terms of efficiency, flexibility, cost reduction, reliability, sustainability, operation and maintenance, safety, robustness, and security across the full lifecycle of wind farms, and increasing the overall contribution of wind energy to the energy system while minimising environmental and health impacts, including biodiversity and pollution concerns.
This initiative supports a wide range of priority research and innovation domains within wind energy systems. These include industrialisation and scale-up through automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence integration, and improved manufacturing and deployment processes; optimisation of operation and maintenance through robotics, advanced sensors, predictive systems, and enhanced cybersecurity; system integration of wind energy with grids, storage, and hybrid energy systems; sustainability and circularity through material innovation, recycling, reuse, and decommissioning strategies; and the development of floating offshore wind technologies through integrated system design and large-scale demonstration projects. The call also supports research infrastructure development, improved environmental modelling of wind systems, enhanced understanding of climate and geophysical interactions, and strengthened environmental and social engagement practices including biodiversity protection and stakeholder participation. It further encourages exploration of emerging wind technologies such as novel turbine designs and advanced aerodynamic concepts.
The programme also prioritises improving environmental performance and reducing lifecycle impacts through better spatial planning, reduced pollution, and enhanced coexistence strategies between wind energy systems and surrounding communities and ecosystems. Strong emphasis is placed on innovation that improves both technical efficiency and social acceptance of wind energy projects, while ensuring long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness.
With a total funding allocation of €93,000,000, this open call is part of the Horizon Europe framework and is designed to support collaborative research and innovation projects that advance wind energy technologies and accelerate the clean energy transition.
Entities eligible to participate include any legal entity established under national, EU, or international law, including organisations from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided they comply with the conditions of the Horizon Europe Regulation and the specific requirements of the call. Eligible participants must register in the Participant Register to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC), which is required during the grant preparation stage for validation before signing the grant agreement.
For more information, visit European Commission.
