EU Funding Opportunities
Brief Description
Horizon Europe focuses on research, innovation, and demonstration, typically at medium to high technology readiness levels. Cluster 5 funds research and innovation projects that support the transition to clean, secure, and competitive energy systems in Europe. Projects are usually large-scale, collaborative, and implemented by consortia from several European countries.
For heat pumps and geothermal energy, Cluster 5 supports:
– Development and testing of new technologies
– Pilot and demonstration projects
– System integration and performance optimisation
– Knowledge sharing and coordination actions
Thematic Focus
- Clean and secure energy supply
- Heat pumps and shallow geothermal energy
- Clean heating and cooling systems
- Demonstration and pilot projects
- Energy system integration and optimisation
Call Period
Annual calls
Next relevant call closes in February 2026
Best Suited for
SMEs
Industry
Research organisations
Use This When
You want to develop, test, or demonstrate innovative technologies (such as advanced heat pumps or geothermal systems) together with research and industry partners in a large international project.
Brief Description
The Innovation Fund Heat Auction is designed for industrial-scale decarbonisation projects. It supports the deep decarbonisation of industrial process heat by incentivising projects that replace fossil fuels with electrified or renewable heat solutions like large heat pumps and geothermal systems.
Instead of a traditional grant, this call uses a performance-based premium: winners receive a fixed reward per tonne of CO₂ avoided, based on verified emissions reductions over several years. Projects compete in the auction based on their CO₂ abatement potential and cost effectiveness.
Thematic Focus
- Industrial process heat decarbonisation
- Large-scale heat pumps
- Geothermal and renewable industrial heat
- Replacement of fossil fuels in manufacturing
- Performance-based CO₂ reduction incentives
Call Period
Open now
Best Suited for
Industry
Use This When
You are planning a large heat decarbonisation project in industry that can demonstrate significant, measurable CO₂ savings from electrified or renewable heat solutions.
Brief Description
The Innovation Fund – Regular Calls support the demonstration and deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Projects are selected competitively based on their CO₂ reduction potential, level of innovation, project maturity, and scalability. Funding is provided as non-repayable grants and part of the payment depends on verified emission reductions.
For heat pumps and geothermal energy, the programme supports:
– decarbonisation of industrial process heat
– renewable and district heating projects
– clean-tech manufacturing, including components for large heat pumps
– integration of heat pumps or geothermal systems in industrial and urban energy systems.
Thematic Focus
- Industrial decarbonisation
- Large-scale heat pumps
- Geothermal energy and renewable heat
- District heating and cooling
- Clean-tech manufacturing for net-zero technologies
Call Period
Open now
Call closes on 23 April 2026, 17:00 (CEST)
Best Suited for
Industry
SMEs
Links
Innovation Fund 2025 Net Zero Technologies – General decarbonisation – Medium-Scale Projects
Innovation Fund 2025 Net Zero Technologies – Clean-tech manufacturing
Innovation Fund 2025 Net Zero Technologies – General decarbonisation – Small-Scale Projects
Innovation Fund 2025 Net Zero Technologies – General decarbonisation – Large-Scale Projects
Use This When
You are planning a large or medium-scale investment project that can deliver substantial and measurable CO₂ reductions using innovative heat pump or geothermal solutions.
Brief Description
The LIFE Programme is the European Union’s main funding programme for environment, climate action, and clean energy. The Clean Energy Transition (CET) sub-programme supports the deployment and uptake of clean energy solutions across Europe. Unlike research programmes, LIFE CET focuses on market uptake, skills, and implementation, helping remove practical, regulatory, and financial barriers to the energy transition.
LIFE CET supports actions such as:
– skills development and training for the clean energy workforce
– market frameworks and business models for clean energy solutions
– preparation of investment pipelines and project portfolios
– support for EU energy and climate policy implementation
LIFE CET is particularly relevant for SMEs working on renewable heating and cooling, including heat pumps and geothermal energy.
Thematic Focus
- Renewable heating and cooling
- Heat pumps and shallow geothermal energy
- District heating and cooling
- Skills development for installers and technicians
- Market uptake and business models for clean heating solutions
- Investment preparation and project development (e.g. one-stop-shops, financing schemes)
Call Period
Annual calls
Next Call: April 2026 – September 2026
Best Suited for
SMEs
Link(s)
Use This When
You want to deploy existing clean heating solutions, build skills, prepare investment pipelines, or remove market and regulatory barriers, rather than develop new technologies. |
National Funding Opportunities
Brief Description
The Economic Transition Fund of the Brussels Capital Region provides financial support to companies investing in projects that contribute to the energy transition. The fund supports investments in heat pump and geothermal technologies, among other clean energy solutions. It aims to help companies finance sustainable projects by covering a significant share of the required investment. Support can cover up to 100% of the financing requirement, depending on the project structure. Eligible investments typically range from €80,000 to €1.5 million. The instrument offers flexible financial conditions, including extended repayment periods.
Thematic Focus
- Heat pump technologies
- Geothermal energy
- Energy transition investments
- Sustainable business development in Brussels
Call Period
Open in a continuous basis
Best Suited for
Start-ups and scale-ups
SMEs based in the Brussels Capital Region
Use This When
You are a Brussels-based SME or start-up planning to invest in heat pump or geothermal technologies and need strong financial support for implementation. This instrument is particularly relevant for companies seeking substantial financing for concrete investment projects within the Brussels Region.
Brief Description
This section provides an overview of the funding schemes that are available for SMEs in the Flanders Region. Flanders Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) gives enterprises with a development project the support that is essential for moving forward with their innovation-driven projects.
Thematic Focus
- Heat pump technologies
- Innovation and SMEs support
- Energy transition investments
- Sustainable business development in Flanders
Call period
Open in a continuous basis depending on the funding scheme.
Best Suited for
- Start-ups and scale-ups
- SMEs based in the Flanders Region
Use this When
You are a Flanders-based SME or start-up planning to invest in heat pump technologies and need strong financial support for implementation. The suggested funding schemes are particularly relevant for companies seeking substantial within the Flanders Region.
Brief Description
This national scheme, managed by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, supports enterprises in improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. The programme provides non-repayable grants to help companies modernise their energy systems and reduce operational costs. The support is granted under the de minimis state aid regime, with funding intensity depending on company size. Eligible investments include:
- Energy-efficient systems (e.g. insulation, heat pumps)
- Photovoltaic installations
- Energy storage systems (batteries)
- Waste heat recovery solutions
Thematic Focus
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Heat pumps
- Renewable energy in enterprises
- Photovoltaics and storage systems
- Reduction of energy costs in SMEs
Call Period
Active in 2025–2026 (and expected to be open regularly until budget exhaustion)
Best Suited for
SMEs established in Bulgaria
Use This When
You are a Bulgarian SME planning to invest in heat pumps, renewable energy systems, or energy efficiency upgrades to reduce energy consumption and costs. This scheme is particularly suitable for smaller-scale investments, with grants typically ranging from BGN 30,000 to 100,000 and up to 65% co-financing.
Brief Description
The IBAC PME call, managed by ADEME under the France 2030 programme, supports SMEs developing technology components (“technology bricks”) or services that contribute to the decarbonisation of industry. Projects must contribute clearly to reducing fossil fuel consumption in industry and typically have a maximum duration of 18 months. Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant, with support rates depending on company size.
The scheme is particularly relevant for SMEs working on:
- high-temperature industrial heat pumps
- compressors and system components
- innovative solutions reducing fossil fuel use in industrial processes
Thematic Focus
- Industrial decarbonisation
- Technology components for clean industry
- High-temperature industrial heat pumps
- Reduction of fossil fuel use in manufacturing
- France 2030 clean industry objectives
Call Period
Open call
Closes on 9 February 2027 (8:00 PM)
Best Suited for
SMEs based in France
(Projects can be submitted individually or in consortium)
Link
Use This When
You are an SME in France developing an innovative component or service that helps industry reduce fossil fuel consumption, particularly in industrial heat applications. This call is best suited for focused innovation projects with moderate budgets (under €1.5 million) and clear industrial impact.
Brief Description
The EEW programme supports companies in Germany to improve energy and resource efficiency and to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Under Module 2 (Process Heat), the programme supports:
– feasibility studies for deep geothermal energy
– investment costs for the construction of geothermal plants
Funding is available only if at least 50% of the heat produced is used for industrial process heat, such as manufacturing, processing, or service provision. Support is provided as an investment cost subsidy, with a maximum grant per project.
Thematic Focus
- Deep geothermal energy
- Renewable industrial process heat
- Energy efficiency in industry
- Replacement of fossil fuels in production processes
Call Period
Open all year (continuous submission)
Best Suited for
SMEs and large enterprises based in Germany
Industry (with high process heat demand)
Use This When
You are a company based in Germany planning a deep geothermal project to supply industrial process heat, with a clear and dominant use in production or service processes. This scheme is focused on industrial heat applications and is not suitable for residential or small-scale heating projects.
Brief Description
The New Development Law 4887/2022 – Green Transition provides financial support to businesses investing in projects that contribute to Greece’s green transition. Industrial heat pumps and renewable heating solutions can be supported when they form part of a broader investment project that improves environmental performance. Support can reach up to 55% for SMEs and 35% for large enterprises, depending on the region and type of incentive (grant or tax relief).
More specifically, the scheme supports investments related to:
- energy efficiency improvements
- renewable energy production
- industrial decarbonisation
- high-efficiency cogeneration
- innovation and R&D linked to green transformation.
Thematic focus
- Green transition and industrial modernisation
- Energy efficiency investments
- Renewable energy production
- Industrial heat pumps
- Circular economy and decarbonisation
Call Period
Ongoing
(Active since 2022, calls published periodically)
Best Suited for
SMEs and large enterprises based in Greece
Use This When
You are a Greek SME or industrial company planning a new green investment project, such as energy efficiency upgrades or renewable heating solutions, under a national development framework.
Brief Description
The CDTI Direct Line of Innovation (LIC) supports near-to-market innovation projects that help companies improve their competitiveness through the adoption of new or improved technologies. Projects may include innovative heat pump solutions or geothermal-related technologies, as long as they are part of a broader innovation or technology investment. The focus is on practical application and market readiness, rather than basic research. Funding is provided as a partially repayable aid, combining a loan with a non-repayable component. Projects must be implemented in Spain and demonstrate technological novelty and a clear business impact.
Thematic Focus
- Near-to-market innovation projects
- Industrial competitiveness and technology adoption
- Innovative heat pump solutions
- Geothermal-related technologies (as part of innovation investments)
Call Period
Open all year (continuous submission)
Best Suited for
SMEs and larger companies established in Spain
Use This When
You are a company based in Spain and want to bring an innovative heat pump or geothermal solution closer to the market, with support for a concrete innovation investment. This instrument is suitable for companies with a mature innovation idea and sufficient financial capacity to combine repayable and non-repayable support.
Brief Description
This national scheme supports projects that aim to reduce the financial risk of geothermal drilling in Hungary (excluding Budapest). Funding covers the drilling, completion, and testing of the first geothermal well, as well as related project preparation and technical activities. The scheme is designed to address one of the main barriers to geothermal development: uncertainty about subsurface resources. The aid is provided as a non-repayable grant. Projects must be physically completed within 24 months of signing the grant agreement. Support intensity depends on whether the geothermal well is successfully certified at the end of the project, with higher support rates applied when drilling risks materialise.
Thematic Focus
- Deep geothermal energy
- Geothermal exploration and drilling
- Risk reduction for geothermal investments
- First-well development and testing
Call Period
Phase 1: 2 March 2026 – 30 April 2026
Phase 2: 14 September 2026 – 30 October 2026
(Call published on 22 January 2026)
Best Suited for
SMEs and large enterprises based in Hungary (excluded Budapest).
Industries based in Hungary (excluded Budapest).
Use This When
You are developing a deep geothermal project in Hungary and need public support to reduce the financial risk of drilling and testing the first well. This scheme is particularly relevant at the early investment stage, before large-scale geothermal deployment decisions are taken.
Brief Description
The SMART Path is the flagship innovation instrument under Poland’s European Funds for a Modern Economy (FENG) Programme 2021–2027. It provides integrated funding for innovative projects, allowing companies to combine different modules such as:
- Research and Development (R&D)
- Implementation of innovation
- Green transition
- Digital transformation
- Internationalisation and skills development
For heat pumps and geothermal technologies, support is available when investments are linked to innovation or green transformation objectives, such as energy efficiency improvements or emissions reduction. Renewable energy installations are eligible only if they form part of a broader innovation project, not as standalone infrastructure. Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant, with support rates depending on company size and selected modules.
Thematic Focus
- Innovation and R&D
- Green transition and decarbonisation
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Renewable energy solutions linked to innovation
- Industrial modernisation
Call Period
Planned calls in 2026 (indicative schedule):
Q1 2026 – SMEs (single applicants)
Q2 2026 – Consortia
Q4 2026 – Additional rounds (subject to available budget)
Best Suited for
SMEs registered in Poland
Large enterprises (mainly in consortia)
Enterprise consortia with R&D organisations or universities
Use This When
You are a Polish SME planning an innovation project that includes green transition elements, such as improving energy efficiency or integrating heat pump or geothermal solutions as part of a broader innovation strategy.