Objective The overall vision of the ECO-DRILLING project is to prototype, pilot, and commercialise our cost-effective and environmentally friendly full profile directional drilling technology for the global hydropower sector. ECO-DRILLING is the only solution capable of drilling upwards over long distances and high heads (up to 2km drilling length-1km altitude difference) using a non-rotatory drill string. Our disruptive technology has the potential to cut annual CO2 emissions with 13,860 tonnes in 5 years according to our sales proyections, reduce the environmental impact of drilling operations (e.g. by eliminating the need for building temporary access roads to the mountain top), and drilling costs by 50%. ECO-DRILLING will support the development of hydropower plants at locations currently unfeasible due to technical or environmental challenges.We have defined a subset of specific objectives covering final prototyping, validation, and commercialisation readiness activities. Achieving them will bring us to a wide market uptake.1) Technology maturation objectives (WP1) to optimise the functionalities of ECO-DRILLING’s subsystems and integrate them into the final prototype to be piloted in real-life settings, raising ECO-DRILLING TRL from TRL7 to TRL8.2) Piloting and validation objectives (WP2) to demonstrate ECO-DRILLING’s technical and economic performance, functionality, and user benefits through a large-scale piloting in real-life operating settings, elevating eco-drilling from TRL8 to TRL9.3) Commercialisation readiness objectives (WP3-6) enabling us to successfully bring the ECO-DRILLING service to the market and reach sales traction beyond Phase 2. Through the ECO-DRILLING SME Phase 2 project we will significantly boost the growth in our company. We estimate that by year 5 after project closure, we will reach accumulated revenues of €138.0m generate at least 37 new full-time positions, and accumulate profits of €61.5m with 6.42 ROI. Fields of science social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementinnovation managementsocial sciencessociologyindustrial relationsautomationengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydroelectricitynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicssocial scienceslaw Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.3. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy Main Programme H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument Topic(s) SMEInst-09-2016-2017 - Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon and efficient energy system Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-2-2016-2017 Funding Scheme SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2 Coordinator NORHARD AS Net EU contribution € 1 968 312,00 Address Finsaveien 9 4440 Tonstad Norway See on map Region Norge Agder og Sør-Østlandet Agder Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 843 563,00