A project aiming to install Electric Ground Power Units (GPUs) for aircraft at Larnaca and Paphos airports is among 39 projects that will be funded by the European Union, as part of the EU’s support to the development of alternative fuel infrastructure in road, maritime and air transport.
The proposed funding for the project amounts to about 3.6 million euro from the Connecting Europe Facility, through its specialised Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) through which the EU is mobilising a total of 422 million euro, according to a press release by the European Commission.
The 39 projects selected will focus on installing public electric recharging stations, including high-power megawatt chargers for both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, developing hydrogen refueling stations and onshore power installations in ports as well as electrifying airports and providing infrastructure for alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol for shipping.
The project to be funded in Cyprus is being coordinated by Hermes Airports, and aims to install 14 fixed power units and provide 17 mobile GPUs at Larnaca airport, as well as 17 fixed power units and 5 mobile GPUs at Paphos airport.
AFIF operates through a continuous rolling call for proposals. The current call, launched on 29 February 2024, has just completed its first evaluation round. The next cut-off will be on 11 June 2025, where the remaining budget of approximately 578 million euro in funding will be available for successful proposals.
In a written statement, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said that the projects “will add nearly 5,000 new charging points, including 626 mega-watt chargers, helping citizens choose zero-emission vehicles and contribute to a cleaner environment.”
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Source: CNA
