The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MITMS) and the ICO Group, as Implementing Partner of the European Commission, are collaborating in this facility.
The aim of both is to try to optimise the application of these grants 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 throughout the Trans-European Transport Network ("TEN-T"), provided that at least part of the projects are developed in Spain.
This is achieved through the combination of (i) grants from CINEA and (ii) repayable financing from ICO to complete the financial needs of the projects. This combined structure of financial resources is known as "blending". The funding granted by the European Commission ranges from 30% (in general, for countries such as Spain) to 50% (for Cohesion countries) of the investment, depending on the type of investment.
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 can be found at the following URL:
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/document/download/3d56c454-c2f0-427c-a59e-83df142130dc_en?filename=AFIF_II_Info_day_Master presentation_08.04.24.pdf
What is AFIF and what projects does it support?
The second AFIF call, recently opened by CINEA on 29 February 2024, offers non-reimbursable grants for investment in transport infrastructure in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) sector in the following project typologies ("eligible projects"):
- Deployment of LDV electric charging infrastructure equipped with points > 150 kW and HDV > 150 kW, 350 kW and 1 MW output power.
- Hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for Heavy Vehicles.
- H2 refuelling infrastructure for public transport at bus depots and for railways (sections for which a derogation from the electrification requirement has been granted or at terminals for refuelling shunting locomotives)
- Hydrogen refuelling and electricity recharging infrastructure for inland waterway and marine vessels, vehicles and equipment for port operations and airports.
- Bunkering infrastructure for the supply of NH3 to vessels.
- Bunkering infrastructure for the supply of methanol (CH3OH) to vessels
* The grant can be up to 70% in the Canary Islands, as an outermost region of the EU.
What associated funding must the eligible project have?
AFIF combines:
i. A grant awarded by the European Commission, with:
ii. ICO financing: up to 100% of the project with a minimum of 10% of the eligible costs. Financing can be in the form of capital or debt.
When can I apply?
This second AFIF call has three cut-off dates:
- Cut-off 1: 24 September 2024 17:00 CET
- Cut-off 2: 11 June 2025 17:00 CET
- Cut-off 3: 17 December 2025 17:00 CET
After obtaining the MITMS Certificate of Agreement and once ICO has approved the financing of the project associated with the AFIF grant, the beneficiary submits the grant application to CINEA electronically on one of the dates mentioned above, accompanied by the approval letter of support from ICO.
From each cut-off date, there will be a maximum period of 12 months to sign the Finance Contract with ICO and the development phase of the project must not exceed 39 months. Approximately four months after the cut-off date, the CEF Committee of the European Commission approves and notifies the beneficiaries and ICO of the final decision on the grant award, at which point ICO financing can be signed.
Agreement of the Member State:
Prior to applying for the grant and ICO financing, it is necessary to have obtained the Certificate of Agreement of the Member State.
The procedure for obtaining the certificate can be found on the MITMS website, 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 its agreement in accordance with Article 11.6 of Regulation 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility.
Who should applicants for funding approach?
The 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, including the approval letter of support by ICO, will be made electronically by the applicant through the CINEA website before the cut-off date.
If you have any questions or queries regarding this programme, the ICO can be contacted at the following email address: cef.afif@ico.es
Additional information - presentation
Additional information - CEF-AFIF 2024-25 Factsheet
