Europe’s strategic autonomy and the transition towards a decarbonised economy have ceased to be long-term objectives and have become an immediate industrial priority. Decarbonisation plans, the path to business competitiveness In this context, on 22 January 2026 one of the most significant windows of opportunity for our country’s industrial sector opens: the second call of the RENOVAL programme, managed by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE).
With a budget of 355 million euros, this call does not seek to subsidise the installation of renewables, but something far more structural: the manufacture and development of the technologies that make the energy transition possible. It is a direct boost to the value chain of the so-called Clean Tech.
RENOVAL 2: A programme to strengthen industrial capacity
The objective of RENOVAL 2 is clear: to produce at home what we have been importing until now. Our country wants to lead the manufacture of key components in the clean energy sector, and this aid is designed to finance both the creation of new production lines and the expansion of existing ones.
Eligible projects are structured around five strategic technological pillars:
- Solar energy: Manufacture of photovoltaic panels, cells, tracking structures and collectors for thermal energy.
- Wind energy: Production of turbines, blades, towers and specific components for both onshore parks and offshore wind.
- Batteries and storage: Manufacture of battery cells, energy management systems (BMS) and thermal or mechanical storage technologies.
- Green hydrogen: Manufacture of electrolysers, fuel cells and components for hydrogen transport and storage.
- Heat pumps and grids: Production of high-efficiency heat pumps and components for the digitalisation of electricity grids.
Timetable and key details of the call
It is vital that interested companies bear in mind the rigidity of the deadlines and of the procedure:
- Submission period: The call opens officially at 9:00 on 22 January 2026 and will remain open until 12:00 on 25 February 2026.
- Aid intensity: It is structured as a non-repayable grant. There are two programmes: one for investments below 30 million euros and another for large projects exceeding that figure.
- Incentive effect: Very important! Companies must not have started the works or entered into firm investment commitments before submitting the application through the IDAE Electronic Office.
Information note: IDAE will hold an information webinar on 21 January 2026.
The determining factor: The DNSH criterion and the environmental report
One of the points where many projects fail is not their economic viability, but compliance with European standards. As these are funds linked to the Recovery and Resilience Facility (MRR), every project must strictly demonstrate that it does no significant harm to the environment, following the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle.
This entails a rigorous analysis of six environmental objectives: from climate change mitigation through to the circular economy and the protection of biodiversity. A poorly executed environmental report can be grounds for direct exclusion, however innovative the technological proposal may be.
How can auma help you?
Faced with such a competitive call, the role of an engineering consultancy is critical. At auma, we support companies with:
- Technical definition of the project: Optimising eligible costs in order to maximise the grant.
- Environmental assessment and DNSH: Ensuring that the project complies 100% with European legislation from the design stage.
- Justification of the reduction coefficient: Often, offering a small reduction in the aid requested drastically increases the project’s score, securing its approval.
You can consult the detailed rules at the official link: RENOVAL 2 Programme – IDAE website
Conclusion
The RENOVAL 2 call is a catalyst for those industrial companies that want to lead the clean technology market. In a global context where the supply chain is increasingly uncertain, manufacturing clean technology locally is not only a matter of sustainability, but of long-term strategy and competitiveness. Decarbonisation is not only sustainability it is opportunity
On 22 January the door opens; being technically and administratively prepared will be what separates the selected projects from those left behind.