Subsidy for Sustainable Inland Shipping Launching Post-Summer
A new subsidy program for sustainable inland shipping will begin after summer, offering up to €3 million per project. The initiative, with a total budget of €230 million, aims to support the conversion of vessels to hybrid-electric, hydrogen, or methanol propulsion, addressing the industry's reliance on fossil fuels amid the energy crisis.
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Following the summer, inland shipping operators can apply for subsidies to transition to sustainable practices. The program, administered by the Ministry of Infrastructure, will allocate around €230 million from 2026 to 2030, with approximately €39 million available in the first round later this year.
Shipowners have options including electric propulsion powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, as well as combustion engines using hydrogen or methanol. The maximum subsidy per project ranges from €500,000 to €3 million, depending on the chosen sustainable method. This initiative is expected to lead to the retrofitting of 150 to 160 ships by 2032, reducing dependence on foreign fossil fuels during the ongoing energy crisis.
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