If you can answer “Yes” - or even “I’m not quite sure” - to any of these questions, you should take a closer look at the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). It can give companies in transport, logistics, maritime industries and infrastructure management significant financial leeway to invest in the transition.
What is AFIF – and Why Does It Matter Right Now?
AFIF is part of the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and is designed to accelerate the rollout of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the transport sector. Its core goal: decarbonisation. This means that if you plan to build charging or refuelling solutions for electricity, hydrogen or other low-emission fuels, you could receive EU grants covering up to half of your eligible costs.
Who can benefit?
- Ports and the maritime sector.
- Logistics hubs and freight forwarders.
- Charging station and refuelling infrastructure operators.
- Infrastructure operators along highways, at airports or freight terminals.
What's Eligible? – Key Infrastructure Components
AFIF specifically targets infrastructure projects that can be linked to the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). This includes major transport corridors, ports, hubs and logistics sites across Europe.
Eligible infrastructure includes:
- Onshore Power Supply (OPS) in ports.
- Charging points for electric trucks along highways and at logistics hubs.
- Hydrogen refuelling stations (especially for heavy-duty vehicles).
- Grid connections and electricity supply (including high-voltage connections).
- Combined charging hubs for multimodal transport nodes.
And it’s not just large corporations who benefit - medium-sized logistics providers and port operators with robust projects can also secure funding.
Why Is This So Relevant for the Maritime Logistics Sector?
The maritime industry is under growing pressure to decarbonise:
- By 2030, major ports will be required by AFIR (EU 2023/1804) to provide shore-side electricity for container and passenger ships (≥ 5,000 GT).
- FuelEU Maritime will oblige shipowners to use low-emission energy while at berth.
- Shippers and shipping lines are increasingly demanding carbon-free cargo handling.
- Many ports still face gaps in OPS and alternative fuel infrastructure.
For the first time, AFIF systematically supports the rollout of shore power (OPS). Port operators can specifically apply for funding to build the necessary infrastructure for container ships, ferries or inland vessels - combined with grid connections and load management systems.
How Does the Funding Work - and What Should You Watch Out For?
AFIF is not a simple grant - it relies on so-called “blending calls”. This means EU funds are only awarded if you can show co-financing from financial institutions such as bank loans or leasing arrangements.
Key prerequisites:
- Your project site is located on or near a TEN-T corridor or key port location (e.g. North Sea-Baltic, Mediterranean, or major transport axes like A1, A3, A7).
- Your project planning is sufficiently advanced - permits, a solid business case and technical plans are in place.
- You have a financing strategy with confirmed partners (banks, leasing providers, investors).
Common stumbling blocks:
- Unclear or poorly documented location linkage to the TEN-T network.
- Incomplete technical documentation of infrastructure elements.
- Missing project partners or proof of co-financing.
Best-Practice: Rijeka OPS – EU Funding Eligibility with HPC Expertise
Another example: the Port of Rijeka in Croatia. With HPC’s support, Rijeka successfully qualified for EU funding to expand its shore power infrastructure. HPC prepared the feasibility study, and technical design to align the port with AFIF and CEF requirements. By strategically planning OPS and securing TEN-T classification, Rijeka strengthened its position as a key Adriatic hub - aiming to make layovers emission-free and offer shipping lines and forwarders more sustainable services.
Act Now — AFIF Is a Time-Limited Opportunity
AFIF operates through periodic calls for applications - the next one is expected in March 2026. From experience, a successful application needs at least 4–6 months of preparation to get location proof, financing and technical documentation up to CEF standards.
If you wait until early 2026 to get started, you’ll likely miss the window. The deadline is at the beginning of March 2026! So now’s the time to check your eligibility, launch your planning and secure financing partners.
How HPC Supports You Through the AFIF Funding Process
For nearly 50 years, HPC has guided complex infrastructure and energy projects in the maritime sector - from initial concept through to delivery.
Our services for AFIF applications include:
- Feasibility and eligibility checks: assessing whether your project meets AFIF Regulation (EU 2021/1153) requirements - including TEN-T relevance, technical maturity and transaction structure.
- Application management at CEF level: drafting EU-compliant project outlines (Part A/B), building the economic benefit case (CBA) and risk assessment per CINEA guidelines.
- Structuring the “blending”: identifying and coordinating co-financing partners such as the EIB, KfW or private investors - a core AFIF criterion.
- Process support and reporting: helping you align with EU agencies (e.g. CINEA), manage submissions via TENtec, and handle ongoing reporting if your grant is approved.
Our mission is to guide technical innovation projects in ports, terminals and logistics infrastructure through the EU funding process with a high chance of success — robust, on schedule and strategically aligned with your investment roadmap.
Conclusion: Take Action Now for Greener Transport Infrastructure
AFIF is more than just a grant programme - it’s a strategic instrument to make your infrastructure low-emission and compliant for the future. Use this opportunity to position yourself as a leader in the green transformation of maritime and logistics-related infrastructure.
Want to know if your project could qualify for AFIF funding? Reach out to Martin Schramm.
