Germany launches up to $81M funding for green inland waterway corridors

In Germany, the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) has published the first call for funding for the new “Guideline on grants for green inland waterway transport”. The federal government initially provides up to 70 million euros for the construction of green inland waterway corridors. Projects are funded that enable the use of emission-free or low-emission inland waterway vessels and create the necessary infrastructure.

With the new funding programme, the BMV supports the use of emission-free and clean propulsion and energy systems in inland waterway transport. At the same time, more freight and passenger traffic is to be shifted to the waterway. The programme thus contributes to the achievement of the national climate targets, the implementation of European targets for infrastructure of alternative fuels and the long-term competitiveness of German inland waterway transport.

The first call for funding includes only measures of the funding line “Building green inland waterway corridors”. Companies, municipalities and other economically active actors based in Germany are entitled to apply.

Among other things:

the equipment of new inland waterway construction and the conversion of existing freight vessels to zero-emission or low-emission propulsion systems;

investment in port infrastructure, including charging and tank infrastructure for alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia or methanol,

the construction of renewable electricity and renewable hydrogen plants and corresponding storage solutions,

Infrastructure measures at transhipment and berths outside ports, including charging and tank infrastructure, as well as mobile utilities.