RFCS-2023-JT-Big Tickets for Coal

Topic description

ExpectedOutcome:

In line with the Paris Agreement, on 11 December 2019, the Commission published the Communication on the European Green Deal, committing to tackle climate and environmental-related challenges and to transform the Union into a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050 and where economic growth is decoupled from resource use. This communication, which sets out a new growth strategy, refers to the need to support clean steel breakthrough technologies leading to a zero-carbon steelmaking process by 2030 and to explore whether part of the funding liquidated under the European Coal and Steel Community can be used.

The communication, supported by the Fit for 55 set of legislative proposals and amendments to existing EU legislation that will help the EU cut its net greenhouse gas emissions and reach climate neutrality, also states that all Union actions and policies should pull together to help the Union achieve a successful and just transition towards a sustainable future. In line with the ‘do no harm’ principle referred to in the communication, the objectives of the Research Programme of the Research Fund for Coal and Steel are being revised, so as to no longer cover activities that perpetuate the extraction, processing and unabated use of coal.

Following the EC communication on the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and the European Green Deal Investment Plan, the Council Decision 2008/376/EC for the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) has been revised and updated, with the aim of enabling the funding of large clean steelmaking R&I breakthrough projects as well as research activities in the coal sector in line with the principles of the Just Transition Mechanism. The RFCS Research Programme shall support collaborative research in the coal sector and shall also provide support for research projects for managing the just transition of formerly operating coal mines or coal mines in the process of closure and related infrastructure in compliance with Article 4(2) of Council Decision 2021/1094).

Reference to consolidated Council Decisions (Council Decision of 29 April 2008 2008/376/EC amended by the Council Decision (EU) 2017/955 of 29 May 2017 and Council Decision (EU) 2021/1094 of 28 June 2021).

The RFCS Research Programme (Council Decision (EU) 2021/1094) has the following research objectives for the Coal sector:

• Supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions (Art. 4);
• Improving health and safety (Art. 5);
• Minimising the environmental impacts of coal mines in transition (Art. 6).

The call objectives are:

1. Mine water monitoring, management and/or treatment in coal mines in the process of closure and formerly operating mines;
2. Land monitoring, modelling, stabilisation and/or restoration;
3. Waste and/or spoil treatment of mines in transition;
4. Energy recovery associated with the mitigation and monitoring of methane emissions from formerly operating coal mines, coal mines identified for eventual closure in Territorial Just Transition Plans or coking coal mines (e.g. ventilation air methane (VAM) or abandoned mine methane (AMM) projects that oxidise methane and produce useful energy) and/or geothermal energy systems;
5. Materials recycling and development of alternative materials, including recovery of critical raw materials;
6. Repurposing of former coal and lignite mines as well as coal-related infrastructure, including power supply services, with projects for energy storage, renewable energy, hydrogen or hybrid solutions that enable sector coupling or restoring the environment of former installations and their surroundings.

Proposals should be in line with Council Decision (EU) 2021/1094.

Specifically

• Proposals should address the application of innovative technologies related to one or two of the six call objectives. If addressing two call objectives, proposals should clearly identify which Work Packages address which call objective(s)
• Proposals are expected to include activities related to the promotion of the development of efficient reskilling, upskilling and training for workers affected by a coal phase-out
• When addressing the call objectives, proposals should pay particular attention, when relevant, to what is reported in the Art. 10a of the RFCS Decision 2021/1094 and, more precisely, include activities to address potential solutions that can improve the working conditions of employees at mine sites, in particular health, safety and ergonomics in and around the workplace.

Applicants may submit proposals for either Pilot or Demonstration projects (see Art. 15 and Art. 16 of Council Decision 2008/376/EC).

• Proposals are expected to include an exploitation strategy outlining possible integration of the deliverables of the project (including the pilot/demonstrators) in an industrial environment.
• Proposals are expected to include a preliminary assessment of their economic viability. When relevant, activities related to economic analysis in the direction of a business case or new business models can also be mentioned.
• Activities are expected to start at TRL 4-6 and achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project.