Energy Catalyst Round 11 Early

Application Platform: Innovation Funding Service (IFS).

Application Sections: Project details, application questions and financial information.

Assessment Process: Applications are reviewed by independent assessors based on competition criteria and project quality.

Co-Funders: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

Collaboration Rules: Collaborative projects are allowed and must include at least one SME claiming grant funding.

Competitiveness: Approximately 15% success rate based on previous competition rounds.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the competition scope, fail eligibility checks or do not comply with ODA requirements.

Decision Timeline: Applicants notified around 18 May 2026.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible project costs directly related to the innovation project including development, testing and project delivery activities.

Eligible Scope: Projects must create or improve access to affordable, reliable and low-carbon energy in eligible countries and support development, testing or scale-up of innovative energy technologies or business models.

Funding Intensity: Up to 70% of eligible project costs for micro or small organisations, up to 60% for medium organisations and up to 50% for large organisations.

Important Notes: Successful projects will be enrolled in the Energy Access Accelerator programme which provides additional support to improve commercialisation of clean energy innovations.

Ineligible Projects: Projects that do not improve clean energy access, do not meet ODA requirements, or where energy access innovation is not the primary focus. Projects dependent on export performance or domestic input usage are also not eligible.

Key Requirements: Projects must demonstrate ODA compliance, improve clean energy access, and address affordability, reliability and carbon reduction while considering Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).

Lead Organisation Requirement: The administrative lead must be a UK registered organisation responsible for submitting the application and managing grant distribution.

Match Funding Requirement: Organisations must cover the remaining project costs not funded by the grant.

Project Duration: Between 3 and 12 months

Project End Date: Projects must end by 31 March 2030

Project Start Date: Projects must start from 1 August 2026

Publication Date: 2026-01-12 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified.

Research Category: Feasibility projects.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations undertaking non-economic activity may share up to 50% of total eligible project costs.

Single Applicant Rule: Single applicants must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) and must meet both administrative lead and technology lead criteria.

Subcontractors: Allowed and may be based anywhere in the world, provided costs are justified and selected through normal procurement processes.

Technology Lead: Responsible for technical development and project work packages. Can be from any country and must claim grant funding.

Total Fund Available: Up to £7,000,000 across the three strands of the competition