Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facility: Road & Air Transport - works

Objective

The objective of this call is to support the deployment of alternative fuels supply infrastructure for road transport, and airport ground operations, contributing to decarbonising transport along the TEN-T network.

Scope

1. General provisions

Activities eligible for funding under this call relate to the deployment of alternative fuels supply infrastructure.

The infrastructure shall be deployed in accordance with:

• Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (hereafter “the AFIR Regulation”) and,
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) 1315/2013, and,
• The requirements listed below.

The definitions set in AFIR and the TEN-T Regulations apply to this call for proposals.

1. Publicly accessible charging pools for Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDV)

• Infrastructure
• Publicly accessible recharging pools dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles equipped with at least 4 Megawatt Charging System (MCS) recharging points having each a minimum power output of 1MW; however not necessarily charging simultaneously at their maximum power.
• Publicly accessible recharging pools dedicated to heavy-duty vehicles equipped with a combination of at least 4 MCS recharging points having each a minimum power output of 1MW) and of Combined Charging System (CCS) recharging points having each a minimum power output of 350kW (however not necessarily charging simultaneously at their maximum power). In this case, for each pool, the number of supported recharging points with a minimum power output of 350kW cannot exceed the number of supported recharging points with a minimum power output of 1MW.
• The following elements strictly related to the recharging infrastructure deployment inside the recharging pool area are eligible for support: construction costs including chargers or power cabinet serving charging satellites, canopy, safety and security devices, parking, circulation, and electricity infrastructure (including cabling, electricity substations, batteries and on-site dynamic energy management devices).
• Locations

The recharging infrastructure must be located:

• on the TEN-T road network or within 3 km driving distance from the nearest exit of a TEN-T road,
• in Safe and Secured Parking Areas (SSPA) certified Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum levels, in line with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1012, and located on the TEN-T road network or within 3 km driving distance from the nearest exit of a TEN-T road [1],
• in TEN-T urban nodes, including in port and airport areas provided that the horizontal requirements mentioned in 2.2.5 below are fulfilled.

1. Electrification of airport ground operations

• Infrastructure
• Electricity and preconditioned air supply to stationary aircraft and airships through fixed or zero-tailpipe emission mobile equipment.
• Electricity supply facilities for ground operation vehicles.
• Electricity supply facilities for electric or hybrid electric aircraft and airships.
• Related and electricity storage inside the airport area.
• Location
• In TEN-T airports.

1. Horizontal requirements for all alternative fuels infrastructure

The beneficiary shall operate and maintain the supported infrastructure for a minimum period of 5 years starting from the end date of the related grant agreement. For beneficiaries operating under a Public Service Obligation contract which expires before the end of the 5-year period, this requirement will be fulfilled if the supported infrastructure is transferred and operated by the successor contract holder until the end of the 5-year period.

1. Horizontal requirements for all publicly accessible electricity recharging points for Heavy Duty road transport

• The recharging points must comply with the requirements set in the AFIR Regulation.
• The charging pools must be publicly accessible on a 24/7 basis irrespective of whether the infrastructure is located on a public or private site or premise.
• The recharging pools must be equipped with an energy management system allowing a dynamic allocation of power to the various recharging points.
• The HDV charging pools must be exclusively dedicated to HDV usage and designed accordingly in terms of dimension and circulation. Exclusive use can be ensured by signage combined with one or more of the non-exhaustive following measures: physical segregation from Light Duty Vehicles if any on the same location, digital restrictions for HDV recognition,
• The power capacity of the HDV recharging pool cannot be shared -in whole of in part- to supply demand at a Light Duty Vehicle (LDV) pool even if both pools are using the same grid connection. Separate metering and load management must ensure HDV power availability is ring-fenced at all times.
• 24/7 phone assistance shall be provided to end users.

1. Non eligible costs

• costs related to vehicles;
• costs related to land acquisition, renting/leasing of facilities, procurement and permits;
• costs related to grid connection equipment owned by the Distribution System Operator (DSO) or the Transmission System Operator (TSO);
• administrative costs, including travel and subsistence costs and any indirect costs;
• staff costs of the applicant even for work done in-house;
• costs relating to any type of studies, design and work supervision, commissioning, communication, dissemination and project management either in-house or outsourced;
• Operating Expenditure (OPEX) including consumables and energy consumption;
• upgrade of existing electric recharging infrastructure;
• recharging pools for electric vehicles located in elevated or underground parking buildings or in car/truck dealer or other premises, that are typically utilized by a specific group of users.

1. Synergetic elements

The following activities are eligible as synergetic elements:

• On-site electricity generation based on renewable energy sources;
• Electricity grid connection.

The total costs of these synergetic elements shall not exceed 20% of the total eligible costs of the Action and part of a dedicated work package.

[1] In Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPA), only the cost of chargers and electricity infrastructure serving the recharging points will be eligible. Surfacing, lighting, civil works, safety and security components, canopies and other service buildings will not be eligible for funding.