I recently attended the Innovation Fund – Czech National Info Day, which aimed to present in detail the conditions and expectations of the European Innovation Fund (Innovation Fund, CINEA) for upcoming calls.

My main motivation for attending was to verify whether funding opportunities exist for hydrogen production projects based on biomass for industrial use, and more broadly for hydrogen production technologies that do not fall under the RFNBO regulation but still deliver significant and measurable greenhouse gas emission reductions.

What matters is not the label, but the impact

One key message from the presentations and discussions was clear:
The Innovation Fund is not limited exclusively to RFNBO technologies.

What matters is whether a project:

  • demonstrates innovation (technology, process or integration level),

  • delivers quantifiable greenhouse gas emission reductions,

  • is technically, economically and financially mature,

  • and has a clear application in sectors contributing to major emission reductions, often within ETS-covered industries.

Preparation phase is critical

One of the most important insights from the Info Day was that project preparation is a crucial prerequisite for applying to the Innovation Fund.

Projects must already include key documentation at the moment of application, typically:

  • feasibility study

  • detailed business case

  • lifecycle financial model

  • risk analysis

  • baseline scenario and emission reduction methodology

  • financing structure

High-quality preparation often requires six months or more.

Project implementation timeline

Once approved, projects usually need to be implemented within five years, according to the grant agreement.

This timeline applies to the implementation phase, not the preparation phase.

Role of the Ministry of Environment

For Czech projects, the Ministry of Environment plays an important role as a national contact point and potential partner in complementary financing.

However, the final evaluation and funding decision remains with the European Commission through CINEA.

Practical implications

These insights are particularly relevant for hydrogen production projects based on:

  • biomass

  • biogenic residues

  • other non-RFNBO technologies

Such projects can provide stable energy production, significant short-term emission reductions and economically viable industrial applications.

In my view, this opens the door for a wider range of hydrogen projects than is often assumed today.

I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.

Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development