The European Union is taking a significant step toward decarbonizing its transport sector, allocating nearly €422 million to 39 projects under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF).
These projects, selected under the first cut-off deadline of the 2024-2025 Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme, aim to deploy alternative fuels supply infrastructure along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). This initiative underscores the EU’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving its climate targets, but it also raises critical questions about scalability, implementation, and long-term impact.
The AFIF programme will fund a diverse range of infrastructure projects, including:
- Electric Recharging Points: Approximately 2,500 for light-duty vehicles and 2,400 for heavy-duty vehicles along the TEN-T road network.
- Hydrogen Refuelling Stations: 35 stations catering to cars, trucks, and buses.
- Airport Electrification: Ground handling services in 8 airports.
- Port Greening: Sustainable infrastructure upgrades in 9 ports.
- Ammonia and Methanol Bunkering Facilities: 2 facilities to support maritime transport.
This broad scope reflects the EU’s multi-faceted approach to decarbonisation, targeting road, maritime, inland waterway, and air transport sectors. However, the success of these projects will depend on their ability to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure and meet the growing demand for alternative fuels.
While the funding announcement is a positive development, the path to implementation is fraught with challenges. The European Commission’s award decision, expected in the coming months following EU Member States’ approval on 4 February 2025, marks only the beginning. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) must now prepare grant agreements with project beneficiaries, a process that will require meticulous coordination and oversight.
One of the primary challenges lies in the scalability of these projects. For instance, the planned 2,500 electric recharging points for light-duty vehicles represent a fraction of the estimated 1.3 million public charging points needed across the EU by 2025 to meet demand. Similarly, the 35 hydrogen refuelling stations, while a step forward, fall short of the infrastructure required to support widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Aligning with Regulatory Frameworks
The AFIF initiative aligns with several key EU regulations, including the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), ReFuelEU Aviation, and FuelEU Maritime. These frameworks set ambitious targets for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, but their success hinges on timely and effective implementation.
For example, AFIR mandates the establishment of publicly accessible electric recharging pools and hydrogen refuelling stations along the EU’s main transport corridors and hubs. The AFIF-funded projects are a critical component of this effort, but their impact will depend on their ability to meet regulatory requirements and address gaps in the current infrastructure.
The second phase of AFIF (2024-2025) has a total budget of €1 billion, with €780 million allocated under the general envelope and €220 million under the cohesion envelope. While this funding is substantial, it represents only a fraction of the estimated €80 billion needed to achieve the EU’s decarbonisation goals by 2030.
Moreover, the technical complexities of deploying alternative fuels infrastructure cannot be overlooked. Hydrogen refuelling stations, for instance, require significant investment in storage, distribution, and safety systems. Similarly, the electrification of airports and ports involves upgrading existing infrastructure to accommodate new technologies, a process that can be both time-consuming and costly.
The success of the AFIF initiative will depend on the active involvement of stakeholders, including governments, private sector players, and local communities. Collaboration will be essential to address regulatory hurdles, secure additional funding, and ensure the timely completion of projects.
The call for proposals remains open, with the next cut-off deadline set for 11 June 2025. This presents an opportunity for additional projects to secure funding and contribute to the EU’s decarbonisation efforts. However, stakeholders must act quickly to submit high-quality proposals that align with the programme’s objectives and address critical gaps in the current infrastructure.
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