Strong interest in energy innovation: 54 applications representing projects worth DKK 110 million

Glenda Napier, CEO, Energy Cluster Denmark

54 new project proposals with a total budget of just under DKK 110 million have been submitted in response to Energy Cluster Denmark’s latest call for innovation funding for new feasibility studies and Proof of Concept projects across the energy sector.

There has been strong interest in Energy Cluster Denmark’s latest call for innovation funding. By the application deadline, 54 project proposals had been submitted with a total budget of around DKK 110 million. This corresponds to an average project budget of just over DKK 2 million.

The applications cover a broad range of areas across the energy sector:

14 projects within digitalisation
14 within energy production
10 within energy efficiency
6 within energy infrastructure
6 within energy storage
6 within sector coupling and CCUS

Behind the numbers is a wide variety of ideas. The projects range from energy storage, biogas and hydrogen production through electrolysis to new solutions within wind and wave energy. Digital solutions also feature prominently, including AI-based control, energy communities and tools for operating and optimising electricity, heating and energy systems. Digital and software-based solutions therefore cut across several of the energy areas.

Several projects span more than one area. The applications involve a total of 121 companies, including 116 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and five large companies. They also involve a broad range of knowledge partners, with participation from six universities and university colleges as well as five GTS institutes.

“It is great to see so many companies and knowledge institutions bringing concrete ideas to the table. Feasibility studies and Proof of Concept projects play an important role in the innovation chain because they allow new technologies and solutions to be explored, tested and matured in relatively small projects. From there, the strongest solutions can be developed further and form the basis for larger development and demonstration projects. That is exactly the progression we want to support,” says Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark.

The selection process now begins

The 54 applications will now be reviewed. First, the projects will be assessed to determine whether they meet the formal requirements. They will then be evaluated based on the published selection criteria, with input from external experts representing a broad range of expertise across the energy sector.

The process will continue until the end of October, after which selected project consortia will be invited to pitch their projects in November. A final decision will then be made on which projects will receive funding.

The funding is part of Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark under the Danish Board of Business Development. It is administered by Energy Cluster Denmark and formally made available by the Danish Business Authority.

Latest news

All news

This is exactly what the CO2QMON project has been working on. The project partners are Olicem, FORCE Technology, Kraftvarmeværk Thisted, Aalborg Portland and Energy Cluster Denmark.

The project has focused on monitoring and reporting the quantity and quality of CO2 from carbon capture facilities. One of the key outcomes is a report that brings together experiences and recommendations for organisations preparing to establish CO2 capture and looking for a stronger basis for decision-making.

Find the report here.

A report that makes a complex field more concrete

According to the project partners, one of the most important insights has been that the area is more complex than it may first appear.

“Our vision has been to help create a standard for how CO2 is monitored and reported. But the project has also shown that this field is significantly more complex than it may seem at first glance. This is not a one-size-fits-all market,” says Troels Skov Moestrup, CCO at Olicem.

In the project, Olicem has focused on how existing experience with emissions data and reporting can be applied in a new context.

“We are in a stronger position now because we have gained more concrete knowledge about the variables involved, what needs to be reported, and how solutions need to be adapted to different point sources as well as future CO2 infrastructure. That is important, because if you want to create value, you need to address real needs,” says Troels Skov Moestrup.

Familiar technology in a new reality

For FORCE Technology, the project has provided new insights into how established measurement technologies can be used in a new context.

“Measuring impurities in pure CO2 is different from measuring them in, for example, air and flue gas emissions, and it requires a thorough understanding of the instruments’ measurement principles, limitations and potential interferences caused by the CO2 matrix,” says Christina Andersen, Project Manager in Clean Air Technologies at FORCE Technology.

She also points out that monitoring CO2 quality is a necessary part of a well-functioning value chain.

“CO2 that does not meet applicable quality specifications can create challenges for materials, processes and safety. No infrastructure owner or off-taker is likely to want to receive CO2 that is insufficiently documented or contaminated. That is why reliable monitoring of CO2 quality is important.”

Relevant today and for future projects

The project also comes at a time when the market is maturing and more projects are on the way.

This makes the project particularly relevant for companies such as Aalborg Portland, which is facing major decisions as CO2 management moves from plans into practice. The results can help provide a stronger basis for decision-making in a market where requirements, standards and roles are still evolving.

“A project like CO2QMON contributes important fundamental knowledge in an area where many questions remain unanswered. It is useful for individual projects because it reduces uncertainty and makes it easier to navigate requirements, solutions and interfaces between partners.

But it also has broader significance for the industry as a whole. CCUS requires many parts of the value chain to work together, and a shared understanding of quality, monitoring and reporting will be absolutely central. It is a prerequisite for the market to develop in a robust way,” says Jesper Damtoft, Group Sustainability Director at Aalborg Portland.

The project points to a need for greater shared understanding across the value chain. The many working groups and parallel tracks make it difficult for companies to navigate quality requirements, documentation and regulatory requirements. In this context, the report is an important outcome because it makes the field more concrete for companies preparing to move forward with CCUS in practice.

FORCE Technology has used experience from the project as part of the development of a customer service that includes measurement of a wide range of impurities in CO2.

“We are already seeing demand from the market for support in documenting CO2 quality. The project has contributed valuable experience and insights into what is needed to support this development,” says Christina Andersen from FORCE Technology.

The project is part of Erhvervsfyrtårn Nord / Virksomhedsudvikling Danmark.

09.22.26New report aims to reduce uncertainty around CO2 quality data management in the CCUS value chain

The applications cover a broad range of areas across the energy sector:

14 projects within digitalisation
14 within energy production
10 within energy efficiency
6 within energy infrastructure
6 within energy storage
6 within sector coupling and CCUS

The selection process now begins

09.21.26Strong interest in energy innovation: 54 applications representing projects worth DKK 110 million

Poul Fogh, Director of Special Projects in CARA Cooling and project partner in Green Energy Academy

Over a two-year period, small and medium-sized Danish enterprises will receive training on Indian market conditions, access to local networks, and one-on-one meetings with relevant Indian stakeholders.

The programme is supported by the Danish Energy Agency and the EMD Foundation through the Green Energy Academy initiative.

At the same time, the Danish energy companies will serve as instructors, equipping Indian engineers with a deeper understanding of Europe’s green transition efforts and the competencies required to support increased electrification and a more climate-friendly industry.

The initiative is based on a collaboration between Energy Cluster Denmark and its Danish partners Aprendio and Energy & Climate Academy, as well as the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) and Innovation Centre Denmark in Bangalore.

A handbook for innovation
One of the Danish companies selected for the programme is CARA Cooling, which is developing an innovative cooling solution that uses water as a refrigerant and is powered by waste heat.

For CARA Cooling, participation has already broadened the company’s perspective on the opportunities available in the Indian market. Poul Fogh, Director of Special Projects of CARA Cooling, highlights that the programme provides concrete insights into both market data and business culture in India.

“We are essentially being given a handbook for entering an unfamiliar market and engaging in potential innovation projects. At the same time, we gain access to concrete figures that demonstrate the opportunities in India, making this far more than just theory. We can already see that the potential in India is greater than we initially thought,” says Poul Fogh.

The company expects to participate in a series of one-on-one meetings with potential partners ahead of a planned innovation mission to India in February 2027.

“We need to be smarter”
At Nordic Green Solutions, another participant in the Green Energy Academy programme, the motivation is to identify new opportunities for growth and innovation. India represents an attractive market, says Casper Thielsen, Senior Manager at Nordic Green Solutions. The consultancy specialises in energy optimisation and helping companies calculate and reduce their carbon footprint.

“We are more expensive than many local alternatives in India, so we need to be smarter. That is why it is crucial to understand the market and India’s demand for innovation and solutions that can support its development. We want to build relationships and identify the right partners for innovative initiatives, and this project creates exactly that opportunity for both us and our Indian partners,” says Casper Thielsen.

Facts
Green Energy Academy is funded by the Danish Energy Agency and the EMD Foundation.

The innovation project is carried out by Energy Cluster Denmark in collaboration with Aprendio, Energy & Climate Academy, IIT-Madras and Innovation Centre Denmark in Bangalore.

Questions?
For more information about the Danish-Indian collaboration, please contact:

Jakob Falk, Project Manager, Energy Cluster Denmark, jfa@energycluster.dk, +45 28 48 79 65

09.09.26Green Academy opens the door to Danish-Indian innovation

Interest in developing and demonstrating new energy technology solutions remains strong.

This is evident from the recently concluded application round under Denmark's Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP), where 79 projects across the country have applied for a total of DKK 772 million to support new project initiatives.

Among the applicants is Denmark's national energy cluster, Energy Cluster Denmark, which, together with a number of strong consortia, is involved in 13 project applications representing a combined project budget of DKK 327 million.

This is according to Glenda Napier, CEO of Energy Cluster Denmark.

“The fact that we have contributed to project applications representing slightly more than every fourth EUDP krone applied for in this funding round highlights the strong innovative capacity among our members. We see startups, SMEs, large companies, researchers, and other members joining forces around innovation. This is a clear sign that the energy sector continues to invest heavily in developing the new solutions and technologies needed to drive the green transition,” says Glenda Napier.

Innovation Projects with Potential
The 13 innovation projects span the entire energy sector value chain and address some of the key challenges facing industry and society.

Common to all 13 applications is the ambition to develop, test, and demonstrate new solutions that can strengthen both climate resilience efforts and Danish competitiveness in the long term.

“In this funding round, we see particularly strong interest among our members in seeking support for innovation within energy security and more decentralized energy solutions, as well as digitalization that can enable greater flexibility and faster, more efficient balancing of the power grid. We are proud to have helped bring together strong partnerships and qualify projects that can move new energy technologies closer to market,” says Glenda Napier.

Facts
The applications will now undergo EUDP’s professional evaluation process, and final funding decisions are expected to be made in December 2026.