Innovative and sustainable materials solutions for the substitution of critical raw materials in the electric power system

Proposals should deliver innovative, sustainable and cost effective materials solutions for the substitution of (i) heavy rare earth elements used in permanent magnets; and/or (ii) CRM used in energy storage applications; and/or (iii) CRM used in catalysts for applications to generate electricity; and/or (iv) CRM in materials used in photovoltaic cells. Substitution of CRM in electronics or lighting applications is excluded.

In order to ensure the industrial relevance and impact of the research efforts, the cost effectiveness and commercial exploitation potential of the proposed solutions compared to state-of-the-art solutions currently available on the market should be convincingly assessed in the proposal. The sustainability of the materials solutions should be analysed through a life-cycle assessment. Recycling/reuse should be addressed.

Where relevant, proposals should contribute to the ""Expert network on critical raw materials"". Refer to the part on 'Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials' of this Work Programme, topic SC5-15a-2016.

The implementation of this topic is intended to start at TRL 3 and target TRL 5.

In line with the objectives of the Union's strategy for international cooperation in research and innovation (COM(2012)497), international cooperation according to the current rules of participation is encouraged, in particular with Japan[[Co-funding opportunities from the Japan Science and Technology Agency exist for Japanese partners. For more information, please consult http://www.jst.go.jp/sicp/announce_eujoint_03_GeneralInfo.html.]]. The quality of the international cooperation will be reflected in the evaluation of the proposal, under the criteria 'Excellence' and 'Impact'.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 3 and 5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

The ambition of the European Union to achieve a secure, competitive and sustainable energy system by 2050 has become a priority. The electric power system will play a pivotal role in the overall energy mix, with particular challenges to achieve a balance between electricity supply, conversion, transport and use of energy. Critical raw materials[[The 2014 revision of the list of critical raw materials for the EU can be found at CRM can become a bottleneck to the supply-chain of the different technologies used in the electric power system with implications for materials demand under different scenarios described in the EU Energy Roadmap 2050.

Even if recycling rates for some of these materials could be optimised to the highest possible extent, the overall increasing demand for CRM urges the roll-out of substitution-based solutions within the next decade.

This specific challenge is covered by the Priority Area “Substitution of raw materials” of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials.

• A strongly reduced or completely eliminated CRM content in the proposed solution(s) while keeping up or improving the materials performance levels as specified in the relevant parts of the SET-Plan Integrated Roadmap and its Annexes, available at https://setis.ec.europa.eu/set-plan-process/integrated-roadmap-and-action-plan
• A risk mitigation strategy from future bottlenecks in the material supply-chain of energy technologies used in the electric power system;
• Contribute to achieving the objectives of the EIP on Raw Materials, In particular, a substantial contribution to the demonstration of substitutes in targeted applications of critical raw materials.