Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility - Unit Contributions

The CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN call, part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), is designed to support the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The primary target is to promote decarbonization in the transport sector through the establishment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, with required minimum power outputs of 150 kW and 350 kW, respectively. The total indicative budget for this call is EUR 780 million, with multiple application cut-off dates, including September 24, 2024, June 11, 2025, and March 4, 2026.

Eligible applicants include public and private entities such as Charge Point Operators (CPOs), e-Mobility Service Providers (e-MSPs), and financial institutions. Projects can also involve implementing partners that contribute at least 10% of the project costs. Specific requirements apply for the participation of entities from EU member states, including overseas territories and candidate countries like Ukraine and Moldova.

The grant mechanism is primarily financial support in the form of non-repayable grants. The call permits single applicants but encourages consortium proposals for more complex projects. The funding aims to support infrastructure rollout at various deployment stages, focusing on mature projects, including electric and hydrogen refueling stations, as well as maritime infrastructures using ammonia or methanol.

The application process is structured with various stages including admissibility checks, eligibility assessments, and a formal evaluation of proposals. A notable success rate from earlier phases shows that out of 49 proposals submitted, 31 were successful, indicating a success rate of around 63%. This suggests competitive but achievable opportunities for applicants.

Furthermore, the call contains detailed conditions regarding admissibility, proposal formats, and required documentation such as financial approval letters and environmental compliance files. The project aims to facilitate collaboration among multiple stakeholders to accelerate the transition towards sustainable transport solutions within the EU, ultimately contributing to broader climate and energy goals.

The CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN call, under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), aims to support the deployment of Alternative Fuel supply infrastructure, contributing to decarbonising transport along the TEN-T network. The call is open for submission with multiple cut-off dates. The total indicative budget is EUR 780,000,000.

The call supports actions related to the roll-out of electricity recharging infrastructure for Light-Duty Vehicles (LDV) and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDV) with minimum power outputs of 150kW and 350kW, respectively. Costs related to vehicles are not eligible. Electric charging in public bus depots is now eligible for funding.

The call text has been updated, including a postponement of the third cut-off date to 4 March 2026, clarification of eligibility criteria for maritime and inland waterway vessels supplied by hydrogen refuelling stations and ammonia or methanol facilities, and modification of the extension principle for projects funded with unit contributions.

The call has two main topics: CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN-UNITS (CEF AFIF-EVRI Unit Grants) and CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN-COSTS (CEF Infrastructure Projects).

The evaluation results for the first cut-off indicate that 49 proposals were submitted, 37 were admissible and eligible, 7 were inadmissible, 5 were ineligible, and 31 were successful. The total CEF contribution for the successful proposals was EUR 331,548,600.

The call conditions include: Admissibility conditions (described in section 5 of the call document), Proposal page limits and layout (described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System), Eligible countries (described in section 6 of the call document), Other eligibility conditions (described in section 6 of the call document), Financial and operational capacity and exclusion (described in section 7 of the call document), Submission and evaluation processes (described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual), Award criteria, scoring and thresholds (described in section 9 of the call document), Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement (described in section 4 of the call document), and Legal and financial set-up of the grants (described in section 10 of the call document).

Applicants must submit proposals, including annexes and supporting documents, using the forms provided inside the Submission System. The following documents are required: Application form (Part A and B), Calculator (CEF-T UN AFIF-EVRI), Timetable (Gantt Chart), Letter of support (MS agreement), Environmental compliance file, Financial approval letter (IP), Financial approval letter (non-IP), Simplified CBA calculator (CEF-T), and List of Implementing Partners.

Additional documents include: Decision on unit contributions for CEF ERTMS, AFIF-EVRI and RFN, CINEA guide on economic appraisal for CEF-T transport projects, Work Programme 2021-2027 (CEF-T), CEF Regulation 2021/1153, TEN-T Regulation 2024/1679, and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

The call provides a list of Implementing Partners, which will be updated as their participation is confirmed by the signature of a new Administrative Agreement with the European Commission for the period 2024-2025.

LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile.

The call provides a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) addressing various aspects of the call, including eligibility of financial institutions, safe and secure parking areas, environmental impact assessments, financing conditions, and technical specifications for recharging infrastructure.

The call aims to foster collaboration through partner search announcements.

The submission deadlines are: 24 September 2024, 11 June 2025, and 04 March 2026.

In summary, this EU funding opportunity, CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN, supports the development of alternative fuel infrastructure across the TEN-T network to promote decarbonization in the transport sector. It focuses on electric vehicle charging infrastructure, particularly for light and heavy-duty vehicles, and has a substantial budget to distribute across multiple application cut-off dates. The application process requires detailed documentation, including financial commitments and environmental compliance assessments. The call is designed to encourage collaboration and innovation in the deployment of alternative fuel solutions, with a strong emphasis on projects that contribute to the EU's broader sustainability goals. The European Commission is offering substantial funding to projects that can build out the infrastructure needed to support alternative fuels, especially electric charging, along major European transport corridors. The funding is available to projects that meet specific technical requirements and can demonstrate financial viability, with the goal of accelerating the transition to cleaner transportation options across the continent.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include public or private Charge Point Operators (CPOs) and e-Mobility Service Providers (e-MSPs), as long as they have incurred the installation costs and the infrastructure has been registered. The call also mentions Implementing Partners and non-Implementing Partners, which can be public or private financing institutions such as banks, leasing companies, guarantee funds, mutual guarantee institutions, or promotional banks. Furthermore, legal entities established in EU Member States are eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically CEF AFIF-EVRI Unit Grants and CEF Infrastructure Projects.

Consortium Requirement: The call does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the mention of "multi-applicants proposal" suggests that consortia are possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible applicants must be established in an EU Member State, including overseas countries and territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States. There are also specific conditions for the Cohesion Fund envelope, requiring applicants to be established in a Member State eligible for funding from the Cohesion Fund. Ukraine and Moldova are also mentioned as eligible to participate in any capacity.

Target Sector: The program targets the transport sector, specifically focusing on the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure. This includes electricity recharging infrastructure for Light-Duty Vehicles (LDV) and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDV), as well as infrastructure for maritime and inland waterway vessels supplied by hydrogen refuelling stations and ammonia or methanol facilities.

Mentioned Countries: Ukraine, Moldova

Project Stage: The project stage is deployment, focusing on the roll-out of infrastructure.

Funding Amount: The indicative budget for the call is EUR 780,000,000. The total CEF contribution for successful proposals from the first cut-off was EUR 331,548,600.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages, including admissibility checks, eligibility checks, evaluation, and grant agreement preparation. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in section 4 of the call document.

Success Rates: Out of 49 submitted proposals, 31 were successful in the first cut-off of the 2024-2025 AFIF call for proposals. This indicates a success rate of approximately 63%.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, a financial contribution from a financial institution (Implementing Partner or non-Implementing Partner) representing at least 10% of the project cost is required, with some exceptions. Projects financed only by own resources will not be considered admissible.

Summary:

The CEF-T-2024-AFIFGEN call, under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), aims to support the deployment of alternative fuel supply infrastructure across the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The call focuses on actions supporting the roll-out of electricity recharging infrastructure for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, with minimum power outputs of 150kW and 350kW respectively. Electric charging in public bus depots is now eligible for funding. The call also supports infrastructure for maritime and inland waterway vessels using hydrogen, ammonia, or methanol.

The call has a substantial indicative budget of EUR 780 million and operates with multiple cut-off dates to allow for ongoing submissions. While the call is now closed, with the deadline on September 24, 2024, there are subsequent cut-off dates in June 2025 and March 2026. The call is open to a variety of applicants, including public and private Charge Point Operators (CPOs), e-Mobility Service Providers (e-MSPs), and financial institutions. Applicants must be established in an EU Member State, with specific eligibility criteria for the Cohesion Fund envelope.

A key requirement is that projects must involve financing from a financial institution (Implementing Partner or non-Implementing Partner) for at least 10% of the project cost. This financial support can take the form of debt or equity. The European Commission emphasizes the importance of deploying alternative fuel infrastructure to decarbonize transport along the TEN-T network. The call provides grants to support the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure, contributing to the EU's broader climate and energy goals. The application process involves several stages, including admissibility and eligibility checks, evaluation based on award criteria, and the preparation of a grant agreement for successful projects. The call encourages collaboration and provides resources for partner searches.