The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA) and the ICO Group, as Implementing Partner of the European Commission, are participating in the European Union's new programme of non-refundable subsidies called Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility, within the framework of its CEF Transport mechanism.
The objective of ICO, in collaboration with MITMA, is to try to optimise the application of this aid to companies for the development of infrastructure projects for charging and supplying alternative fuels (mainly hydrogen and electricity) for transport, both in private vehicles and in public transport systems, ports and airports, which contribute to the decarbonisation of transport along the Trans-European Transport Network (“TEN-T”).
The grants are managed and awarded by CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Detailed information on the current call for AFIF grants is available at the following address: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/events/virtual-info-day-cef-transport-call-alternative-fuels-infrastructure-facility-afif_en
This is done by combining (i) the grant application, which is made electronically at AFIF, Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility - General envelope (3) [CEF-T-2021-AFIFGEN and (ii) reimbursable financing from ICO to complete the financial needs of the projects. This combination of resources (grant and funding) is known as "blending".
What is AFIF and what projects does it support?
The AFIF call launched in September 2021 for the transport sector offers non-refundable grants for infrastructure investment in the following project typologies ("eligible projects"):
1) Electric recharging points for light and/or heavy duty vehicles; connection to the network
| Recharging points for |
Minimum power |
Subsidy limit |
| Light vehicles |
150 kW |
20,000 € |
| Heavy vehicles |
350 kW |
40,000 € |
| Network connection |
600 kVA |
20,000 € |
2) “Zero Emission” Infrastructures:
a) Electric recharging for public transport; inland waterway and maritime transport; port vehicles and equipment; airport ground operations.
The subsidy is up to 30% of the eligible cost.
(b) Hydrogen refuelling for light-duty vehicles ("LDV") and/or heavy-duty vehicles ("HDV") for long-haul; for public transport; inland and seagoing vessels; port vehicles and equipment; railways.
The subsidy is up to 30% of the eligible cost.
3) "Low Emission" infrastructure: liquefied natural gas refuelling stations for inland and seagoing vessels.
The subsidy is up to 10% of the eligible cost.
What associated funding must the eligible project carry?
AFIF combines:
i. A grant awarded by the European Commission, with;
ii. ICO funding: up to 100% of the project with a minimum of EUR 10 million (includes costs eligible for the European Commission grant and also non-eligible costs). Financing can be in the form of equity or debt.
When can I apply?
There will be five successive deadlines until November 2023 for the submission of proposals to the Commission. The deadline for the current open call is 7 November 2023.
Once the ICO has approved the financing of the project associated with the AFIF grant, the beneficiary makes the grant application to CINEA electronically.
From that date, there will be a maximum period of 8 months for the signature of the Financing Contract with ICO, plus an additional month to sign the Subsidy Contract with the European Commission-CINEA. Prior to the signature of the financing with ICO (approximately four months after the deadline), the EFC Committee of the European Commission will notify the beneficiaries and ICO of the final decision on the award of the grant.
Conformity of the Member State:
It is necessary to have previously obtained the Certificate of Conformity from the Member State.
The procedure for obtaining the Member State's certificate of conformity prior to the submission of the application for support can be found on the website of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (MITMA), which also includes additional information related to CEF funds:
https://www.mitma.gob.es/el-ministerio/fondos-europeos-cef/convocatorias_2021-2027
Who can apply?
In general, applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) shall be public or private entities or undertakings, and international institutions, legally established in one of the Member States of the European Union with their agreement in accordance with Article 11.6 of Regulation 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility.
Who should applicants contact?
ICO or any entity accredited by the European Commission for the implementation of Community Funds, in accordance with Art. 62(1)(c) (EU Euratom) No 2018/1046 (FR). The grant application (together with the rest of the documents to be submitted and the prior approval of the financing by the ICO) will be made electronically through the CINEA website before the deadline.
If you have any questions or queries regarding this programme, the ICO can be contacted at the following e-mail address: cef.afif@ico.es
Additional information - presentation
