FP7 stands for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EU's main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007-2013. FP7 is also designed to respond to Europe's employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life.

This page offers you FP7 related news and links to relevant webpages helping you understand the structure and functioning of the programme and alerting you to call for proposals relevant to renewable energy research.

Energy research within the Cooperation Specific Programme of FP7

The FP7 Cooperation Specific Programme aims to support a whole range of research actions in transnational cooperation in ten themes, including energy.
The main aim of research in the energy thematic area is to aid the creation and establishment of the technologies necessary to change the current fossil fuel based energy system into a more sustainable one, less dependent on imported fuels. Such a system would be based on a diverse mix of energy sources and carriers, with particular attention being paid to renewable energy technologies, combined with enhanced energy efficiency and conservation, to address the pressing challenges of security of supply and climate change, while increasing the competitiveness of Europe's industries.

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) aims to contribute to the creation of the European Research Area in the domain of Energy. It has been strongly endorsed by Council and Parliament, both in terms of the proposed approach and the key challenges identified. In the short term, the FP7 Energy Work Programme is the main instrument at disposal of the European Commission to support the implementation of the SET-Plan. The work programme 2010 therefore reinforces the focus on the key challenges of the SET-Plan, in particular anticipating the objectives of the embryonic European Industrial Initiatives and the European Energy Research Alliance.

The energy theme within FP7 will be managed by two Directorates General (DG) of the European Commission, namely Energy (DG ENER) and Research (DG RTD). In particular where a topic such as development of inter-active distribution networks requires both research and demonstration, it is financed by the two Directorate Generals and managed by the most relevant DG.

There are ten main activities in the energy theme of the FP7 Cooperation programme:

1: HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELLS
2: RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY GENERATION
3: RENEWABLE FUEL PRODUCTION
4: RENEWABLES FOR HEATING AND COOLING
5: CO2 CAPTURE AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR ZERO EMISSION POWER GENERATION
6: CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGIES
7: SMART ENERGY NETWORKS
8: ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SAVINGS
9: KNOWLEDGE FOR ENERGY POLICY MAKING
10: HORIZONTAL PROGRAMME ACTIONS



Renewable energy relevant calls

The European Commission published on 20 July 2010 a number of calls for proposals under the specific programmes “Cooperation” of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

On 20 July DG Research and DG Energy also launched three additional energy-related calls for proposals in collaboration with other European Commission Directorates. The three new cross thematic calls are the following:

For further information on the new FP7 Energy calls please read also the dedicated article we posted in the "News" section of EUREC's website. 



FP7 Energy Research Information Day – 2011 calls
Brussels, 8 July 2010

The European Commission organised a dedicated event to present the 2011 ENERGY calls for proposals and and to provide detailed information on the participation rules. The event took place in Brussels on the 8 July 2010 and it was attended also by the EUREC Agency Secretariat.

Video recordings and slides are available on the event website.