EU provides funding for the building of alternative fuels infrastructure, Finland to receive funding for recharging points for electric cars

The EU will provide funding of EUR 1.5 billion for the building of alternative fuels infrastructure, including electricity and hydrogen, in 2021-2023. Finland has been granted funding within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Transport programme for expanding the recharging network of electric cars.

The EU funds for expanding the alternative transport fuels infrastructure for cars, trains, vessels and airplanes are provided within the framework of the CEF Transport programme. In the second round of applications of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility, the European Commission will allocate a total of EUR 292.5 million. The decision on granting the assistance was made by the Transport Programme Committee on 12 September 2022.

The K-Lataus charging network run by the Finnish K-Auto Oy received assistance of EUR 2.7 million together with the German Ionity GmbH. The assistance is intended for funding 42 charging stations for electric cars in Finland covering a total of 93 charging devices with a power output of 150 kWh or more. The project is part of a major power charging station project in 23 EU countries, for which a total of EUR 28,16 million was granted.

The Connecting Europe Facility finances projects aiming at the construction of alternative fuels infrastructure and promoting the decarbonisation of transport with the trans-European TEN-T transport network. The deadline for the next applications is 10 November 2022.

The projects on alternative fuels infrastructure are funded through a combination of EU support and loans. Loan guarantees provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) or a national loan broker are required. Funding is available to central and local government, companies and other actors.

Improvement of alternative fuels infrastructure promotes fossil-free transport

"The improvement of alternative fuels infrastructure is a prerequisite for non-fossil transport as well as a key measure in the road map for non-fossil transport. The assistance can significantly speed up the construction of this type of infrastructure," says Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka.

The national working group on alternative fuels infrastructure led by the Ministry of Transport and Communications assesses the current state of Finnish alternative fuels infrastructure, the adequacy of the existing measures and possible new measures necessary for improving infrastructure.

The working group examines both the electricity charging and the refuelling of biogas and hydrogen. The working group will draw up a national alternative fuels infrastructure programme extending to the 2030s, which will be published in early 2023.

What's next?

The next call for applications for the Connecting Europe Facility Transport Programme, which provides funding for building alternative fuels infrastructure, will end on 10 November 2022. More information on the call is available, for example, on the website of the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

On 13 October 2022, the Ministry of Transport and Communications will organise a public consultation on the development of fuels infrastructure. Further information on the event will be announced on the Ministry's website.

Inquiries:

Marjukka Vihavainen-Pitkänen, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 40 825 1255, marjukka.vihavainen-pitkanen(at)gov.fi (Connecting Europe Facility Transport programme)

Tuuli Ojala, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 50 563 8130, tuuli.ojala(at)gov.fi (national working group on fuels infrastructure)