Towards a better infrastructure for alternative fuels
CEF Transport – Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF)
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) is an ongoing funding instrument supporting the renewal and upgrade of Europe’s alternative fuels infrastructure, with the aim of decarbonising transport along the TEN-T network. The second CEF AFIF call covers the years 2024 and 2025, and focuses on electric charging stations, hydrogen refuelling stations and ‘ammonia/methanol bunkering’ along the European Union’s main transport corridors.
In short
CEF Transport AFIF overview
For whom?
Government (national, provinces, municipalities)
Enterprises (port authorities, industrial, logistics and service-providing companies)
When to apply
The CEF AFIF 2024-2025 programme is successor to CEF AFIF 2021-2023 (whose last of five calls closed on 7 November 2023). The new 2024-2025 period is open for applications since 29 February 2024. In total, there are three closing dates ('cut-off dates'):
- The first: 24 September 2024
- The second: 11 June 2025
- The third: 7 December 2025
For what?
Implementation projects
How much?
The CEF AFIF programme 2024-2025 has a total budget of 1 billion euros. Of this, 780 million is earmarked for the 'General Envelope', and 220 million for the 'Cohesion envelope' (reserved for the 15 EU member states eligible for Cohesion Fund support).
The grant amounts per unit for publicly accessible charging points are:
- within the ‘Cohesion envelope’: 30,000 euros for charging points with a minimum capacity of 150 kW, and 60,000 euros for charging points with a minimum capacity of 350 kW.
- within the ‘General envelope’: 20,000 euros for charging points with a minimum capacity of 150 kW, and 40,000 euros for charging points with a minimum capacity of 350 kW.
Co-financing rates range from 30% to 70% of eligible costs within the 'General Envelope' and from 50% to 70% within the 'Cohesion Envelope'.
Overview of
CEF Transport AFIF themes
Maritime Sector actions for CEF AFIF:
- Actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure dedicated to maritime vessels, vessels, vehicles and equipment for port operations.
- Actions supporting the deployment of bunkering infrastructure for ammonia supply to maritime vessels and vessels for port operations for TEN-T maritime ports.
Inland Waterway actions for CEF AFIF:
- Actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure dedicated to inland waterways.
- Actions supporting the deployment of bunkering infrastructure for ammonia supply to inland waterway vessels and vessels for port operations for TEN-T inland ports.
Automotive actions for CEF AFIF:
Heavy Duty Vechicles and Light Duty Vehicles
- Actions supporting the roll-out of electricity recharging infrastructure for Light-Duty and Heavy-Duty Vehicles of a minimum power output of respectively 150kW and 350kW.
- Actions supporting the deployment of electricity recharging infrastructure for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, equipped with recharging points of respectively minimum 150kW, 350kW and 1MW power output.
- Actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for Heavy-Duty Vehicles.
Public transport in bus depots for railways
- Actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for public transport in bus depots for railways on sections of the TEN-T rail network for which a derogation from the electrification requirement has been granted and on isolated networks, in line with the applicable TEN-T Regulation, or in terminals for refuelling shunting locomotives.
Aviation actions for CEF AFIF:
Actions supporting the roll-out of hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure dedicated to equipment for airports. For example:
- Electric airport ground operations
- (mobile) Electrical Ground Power Units (eGPU)
- Charging stations / Electric Aircraft Charging
- Ground Power Supply (GPS)
- PreConditioned Air (PCA),
- Battery-powered Ground Power Units ( BEV GPUs)
- Hydrogen airport ground operations:
- Hydrogen refueling stations (HRS)
Meet the requirements
CEF Transport AFIF conditions
Various terms of eligibility apply to this grant scheme, including:
The grant must be combined with a loan from other financial institutions (‘blending’). Applicants have to guarantee part (min. 10%) of the financing with a:
- ‘Implementing partner’ (IP): the European Investment Bank (EIB) and other national promotional banks.
- ‘Non-implementing partner’ (non-IP): other public or private financial institutions, for example commercial banks.
Of the AFIF budget, at least 2/3 is available for IP approved financing, and up to 1/3 for non-IP approved financing.
The (Non-)Implementing Partner has to approve the financing of the project in a ‘Financial Approval Letter’.
Get in touch
What can EGEN do for you?
If you have ideas for a project that is a match for one of the AFIF themes, tell us about it. We have already handled several successful AFIF grant applications, and we’d be delighted to help you too!
“The way in which we will travel and transport goods in the coming years is going to be more sustainable, and I am excited to be able to contribute to these physical changes. My perseverance in turning projects into a good-news story and bringing the right parties together is my main asset.”
Contact Simone Zwijnenberg →
Keep up to date
News
Two new Horizon calls published for sustainable energy
The European Commission's Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2023-2024 has allocated 188.6 million EUR to support sustainable energy projects within Cluster 5. This cluster covers the areas of...
Three tips for a successful EHB Auction proposal
The European Hydrogen Bank (EHB) is an initiative of the European Commission established in 2023 with the aim to support among other things the EU domestic renewable hydrogen production. At EGEN, we...
Unlock your Innovation Fund’s full potential with expert GHG reporting support
Several successful Innovation Fund projects from the first rounds are currently starting of their operations and are therefore also entering their monitoring phase. During this phase, ensuring...