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CFAs: Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Facility for Road and Air Transport Projects

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Deadline: 06-Oct-2026

The European Commission is inviting grant applications to support alternative fuel infrastructure for road transport and airport operations across the TEN-T network. The call has a total budget of €130,000,000 and supports heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure, airport electrification, energy storage, renewable electricity generation, energy management systems, and grid connections.

The funding aims to decarbonise transport by supporting publicly accessible charging pools for heavy-duty vehicles and electricity supply systems for stationary aircraft, ground operation vehicles, and electric or hybrid electric aircraft and airships. Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities established in EU Member States, overseas countries and territories, and countries associated with the CEF Programme.

What is this European Commission Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Call?

This European Commission call supports the deployment of alternative fuels supply infrastructure for transport.

The funding focuses on road transport and airport operations connected to the TEN-T network.

The call is designed to help reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, airport ground operations, stationary aircraft, and electric or hybrid electric aviation systems.

It supports practical infrastructure deployment rather than general planning or standalone studies.

Main Purpose of the Call

The main purpose of the call is to decarbonise transport across the TEN-T network.

The programme supports infrastructure that enables cleaner energy use in road freight, heavy-duty transport, and airport operations.

It aims to accelerate the transition from fossil fuel-based transport systems to electric, renewable, and smart energy-based infrastructure.

Total Funding Available

The total available funding under this call is €130,000,000.

This budget supports eligible infrastructure deployment related to alternative fuels supply, heavy-duty vehicle charging, airport electrification, electricity storage, renewable energy integration, and supporting grid connections.

Focus Areas and Priorities

The call focuses on alternative fuel infrastructure for road transport and airport operations.

Key focus areas include:

Key Concepts Explained

Alternative Fuel Infrastructure

Alternative fuel infrastructure refers to physical systems that enable vehicles, aircraft, or transport operations to use cleaner energy sources.

In this call, the main focus is on electricity-based infrastructure, including charging systems, electricity supply facilities, storage, energy management systems, and renewable energy integration.

TEN-T Network

The TEN-T network is the European Union’s Trans-European Transport Network.

It includes major roads, airports, ports, rail links, urban nodes, and transport corridors that support strategic mobility across Europe.

Supported infrastructure under this call must be located on or connected to eligible TEN-T transport infrastructure.

Publicly Accessible Charging Pools

Publicly accessible charging pools are charging areas available for heavy-duty vehicles on a continuous basis.

These charging pools must be designed exclusively for heavy-duty vehicle use and must support reliable access for end users.

Megawatt Charging Systems

Megawatt charging systems are high-power charging systems designed for heavy-duty vehicles.

They enable faster charging for trucks and other large vehicles that require higher charging capacity than standard electric vehicles.

Combined Charging Systems

Combined charging systems are charging solutions that meet specified power requirements and can support electric heavy-duty vehicle charging.

They may be included as part of publicly accessible charging pools.

Airport Ground Operations Electrification

Airport ground operations electrification refers to replacing fossil fuel-based airport support systems with electric infrastructure.

This may include electricity supply for stationary aircraft, ground operation vehicles, electric aircraft, hybrid electric aircraft, airships, and related storage systems.

Eligible Road Transport Infrastructure

The call supports publicly accessible recharging pools for heavy-duty vehicles.

Eligible infrastructure may include:

These components must be directly linked to the deployment of charging infrastructure within the charging pool area.

Eligible Locations for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging

Heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure must be located in eligible transport areas.

Eligible locations include:

Applicants should clearly explain how the proposed location meets the call’s geographic and network requirements.

Requirements for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging Pools

Publicly accessible charging pools must meet specific operating and design requirements.

They must be:

These requirements help ensure that charging infrastructure is reliable, accessible, and suitable for heavy-duty transport needs.

Eligible Airport Infrastructure

The call supports the electrification of airport ground operations within TEN-T airports.

Eligible airport infrastructure may include:

These measures are intended to reduce emissions from airport operations and support cleaner aviation-related infrastructure.

Synergetic Elements Supported

The call also supports certain synergetic elements that strengthen the performance of alternative fuel infrastructure.

Supported synergetic elements may include:

These elements should support the operation of the funded charging or electrification infrastructure.

Operating and Maintenance Requirement

Beneficiaries must operate and maintain the supported infrastructure for at least five years.

This five-year period begins from the end date of the grant agreement.

Applicants should show that they have the financial, technical, and operational capacity to keep the infrastructure functional during this required period.

Costs Not Eligible for Funding

The call excludes several cost categories.

Ineligible costs include:

Applicants should ensure that their proposed budget excludes these ineligible costs.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities.

Applicants must be established in:

Applicants should also ensure that the proposed infrastructure complies with the relevant regulations governing alternative fuels infrastructure and the trans-European transport network.

How the Call Works

The European Commission provides funding for the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure that supports cleaner transport.

Applicants submit proposals for eligible infrastructure linked to road transport or airport operations on the TEN-T network.

Projects should demonstrate how the proposed infrastructure will reduce transport emissions, support heavy-duty vehicle electrification, improve airport energy systems, and contribute to the wider decarbonisation of transport.

The proposal should clearly identify the infrastructure components, location, technical specifications, eligibility basis, operational model, maintenance plan, and expected environmental benefits.

How to Apply

Applicants should first confirm that their proposed project is located on or connected to eligible TEN-T infrastructure.

They should then identify whether the project focuses on heavy-duty vehicle charging, airport ground operations electrification, or supporting synergetic elements such as renewable energy generation and grid connections.

Applicants should prepare a technical and financial proposal that clearly explains the infrastructure to be deployed, its compliance with relevant regulations, and its contribution to transport decarbonisation.

The proposal should also explain how the infrastructure will be operated and maintained for at least five years after the grant agreement ends.

Suggested Application Steps

  1. Confirm that the applicant is an eligible public or private legal entity.
  2. Confirm that the project is located on or connected to eligible TEN-T infrastructure.
  3. Identify whether the project supports road transport charging, airport electrification, or related synergetic elements.
  4. For heavy-duty vehicle charging projects, confirm that the charging pool is publicly accessible and designed exclusively for heavy-duty vehicles.
  5. Confirm that the charging location meets the TEN-T road network, Safe and Secured Parking Area, or TEN-T urban node requirements.
  6. For airport projects, confirm that the infrastructure is located within a TEN-T airport.
  7. Define the technical components, such as chargers, batteries, power cabinets, energy management systems, electricity storage, or preconditioned air supply systems.
  8. Explain how the project will reduce emissions and support transport decarbonisation.
  9. Include an operation and maintenance plan covering at least five years after the grant agreement ends.
  10. Exclude all ineligible costs from the budget.
  11. Include renewable energy generation or grid connection components only where they directly support the eligible infrastructure.
  12. Submit the application through the official European Commission or CEF Programme process.

Why It Matters

Transport decarbonisation requires reliable infrastructure for clean energy supply.

Heavy-duty vehicles need high-capacity charging systems to support long-distance freight and logistics operations.

Airports also need electricity supply systems to reduce emissions from stationary aircraft, airships, ground operation vehicles, and future electric or hybrid electric aviation technologies.

This call matters because it helps build the infrastructure needed for cleaner road transport and airport operations across the TEN-T network.

By supporting charging pools, airport electrification, electricity storage, renewable energy generation, and energy management systems, the programme contributes to lower emissions, cleaner mobility, and a more sustainable European transport system.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid proposing infrastructure that is not located on or connected to eligible TEN-T transport infrastructure.

Charging pools should not be designed for general or specific restricted user groups if public accessibility is required.

Applicants should not include vehicles, land acquisition, facility leasing, permits, staff costs, studies, design activities, project management, or operating expenditure in the funding request.

Projects should not request funding for upgrading existing electric recharging infrastructure if upgrades are excluded.

Charging pools located in elevated or underground parking buildings should not be proposed if they fall under the ineligible category.

Applicants should not include grid connection equipment owned by distribution or transmission system operators.

Airport projects should clearly show how the proposed infrastructure supports ground operation electrification or electricity supply for stationary, electric, or hybrid electric aircraft and airships.

Tips for Strong Applications

A strong application should clearly link the project to the TEN-T network and transport decarbonisation goals.

Applicants should provide a precise technical description of the infrastructure and its location.

Heavy-duty vehicle charging projects should show continuous public accessibility, exclusive heavy-duty vehicle use, dynamic power allocation, and user support arrangements.

Airport projects should explain how the proposed infrastructure reduces emissions from ground operations or stationary aircraft and airships.

The proposal should include a credible five-year operation and maintenance plan.

Budgets should be carefully checked to remove ineligible costs.

Projects that include renewable energy generation, electricity storage, or grid connections should clearly explain how these elements support the core infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of this European Commission call?

The call supports alternative fuel infrastructure for road transport and airport operations to help decarbonise transport across the TEN-T network.

2. How much funding is available?

The total available funding under this call is €130,000,000.

3. What road transport infrastructure is eligible?

Eligible road transport infrastructure includes publicly accessible charging pools for heavy-duty vehicles equipped with megawatt charging systems and combined charging systems that meet the required power specifications.

4. What airport infrastructure is eligible?

Eligible airport infrastructure includes electricity and preconditioned air supply for stationary aircraft and airships, electricity supply facilities for ground operation vehicles, electricity supply for electric or hybrid electric aircraft and airships, and related electricity storage facilities within TEN-T airports.

5. Where must heavy-duty vehicle charging infrastructure be located?

Charging infrastructure must be located on the TEN-T road network, within the specified driving distance from a TEN-T road exit, in certified Safe and Secured Parking Areas, or within TEN-T urban nodes, including port and airport areas where applicable requirements are fulfilled.

6. What costs are not eligible?

Ineligible costs include vehicles, land acquisition, leasing, permits, certain grid connection equipment, administrative expenses, staff costs, studies, design activities, project management, operating expenditure, upgrades of existing charging infrastructure, and certain charging pools in elevated or underground parking buildings or restricted-user premises.

7. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities established in EU Member States, overseas countries and territories, and countries associated with the CEF Programme.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s alternative fuel infrastructure call supports the deployment of clean transport infrastructure for heavy-duty road vehicles and airport operations.

With €130,000,000 available, the call funds charging pools, airport electrification systems, electricity storage, energy management systems, renewable electricity generation, and grid connections that support transport decarbonisation across the TEN-T network.

Applicants should ensure their proposals meet location rules, technical requirements, public accessibility conditions, five-year operation and maintenance obligations, and cost eligibility restrictions.

For more information, visit European Commission.

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