Objective
Europe pathway towards climate neutrality recognises the need for firm, flexible and resilient generation to support a power system with high shares of renewables. At national level, countries with high solar resources such as Spain and Portugal have embedded concentrating solar power (CSP) within their National Energy and Climate Plans as strategic assets to increase the share of renewables and reinforce energy security supply. CSP plants equipped with thermal energy storage (TES) can decouple solar collection from electricity generation, delivering dispatchable renewable power, stable output profiles, and system services aligned with grid needs. However, the deployment potential of CSP is linked to the cost and performance of TES. Molten salt two-tank TES is a mature and proven technology, but its high material costs, construction complexity, and durability-related uncertainty continue to limit cost reduction potential and increase perceived investment risk. CONCRETE4TES aims to address this critical bottleneck in CSP deployment by targeting the TES tank. By replacing state-of-the-art stainless-steel molten salt tanks with a liner-free, innovatively formulated refractory concrete-based solution exhibiting intrinsic impermeability to molten nitrate salts under defined operating conditions, CONCRETE4TES aims to reduce storage CAPEX, limit exposure to volatile high-alloy supply chains, and improve cost predictability, while maintaining equivalent thermal performance and operational behaviour. The project focuses on demonstrating one clearly defined TES concept under realistic operating conditions, generating validated data on performance, losses, durability, and cost drivers. Through this evidence-based approach, CONCRETE4TES directly supports the role of CSP with TES as a dispatchable renewable technology in Europe, strengthens its contribution to renewable energy system integration, and reduces the uncertainty that currently constrains investment and replication.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2026-02
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
25003 Lleida
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.