EU Commission invests €3.4 billion in net-zero technology projects

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🗞️ Driving the news: The European Commission has selected 77 net-zero technology projects across 23 countries in the European Economic Area for €3.4 billion in funding through its Innovation Fund
• Financed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, the grants will support industrial decarbonisation, clean-tech manufacturing, renewable energy, storage, recycling and low-carbon fuels

🔭 The context: The selected projects span five categories: large-scale, medium-scale and small-scale decarbonisation, clean-tech manufacturing and pilot projects
• For the first time, the portfolio includes a small modular nuclear reactor project and a direct air carbon capture and storage project
• A further 84 projects passed evaluation but did not receive grants, while 160 proposals remain eligible for project development assistance from the European Investment Bank

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Commission estimates that the 77 projects could avoid approximately 290 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over their first decade of operation
• By supporting emerging technologies and lower-carbon industrial processes, the funding could help reduce emissions while advancing the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050

⏭️ What’s next: Project promoters will begin preparing grant agreements with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, with the final outcomes expected in the first quarter of 2027
• The Commission also plans to launch another round of Innovation Fund calls in early December 2026, including €1 billion for clean-tech manufacturing

💬 One quote: The Commission says the projects will “contribute to the clean transition, energy independence and security.” — European Commission, as reported in the article.

📈 One stat: €17.5 billion — The total grant support requested across 358 applications to the call, compared with the €2.9 billion budget initially available

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