(Berlin, Germany) – The Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) has announced a call for tenders totaling €125 million in funding. The money is earmarked for investments in emission-free and clean propulsion systems, as well as charging and refueling infrastructure for inland navigation. The program has two main focuses:
- Development of green inland waterway corridors: Funding is provided for both the construction and conversion of ships as well as the development of the necessary loading and refueling infrastructure.
- Shifting traffic to waterways: Projects that shift public passenger transport and commercial traffic to inland waterways are eligible for funding, for example in metropolitan areas and port regions.
Investments in alternative energy carriers and fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol are eligible for funding. This explicitly includes the construction of renewable hydrogen production facilities and their distribution. This also encompasses mobile charging and refueling infrastructure, such as containerized storage, including piping, control, and safety systems. Furthermore, investments in the construction of renewable electricity generation facilities at the charging infrastructure site are also eligible.
Funding is provided as a grant of up to 95 percent of eligible expenses. Renewable hydrogen production plants, both inside and outside ports, are eligible for funding of up to 90 percent.
The first call for proposals is expected to be published "in the coming weeks," according to the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). Companies and municipalities based in Germany can then submit applications to the Federal Office for Administrative Services (BAV). An initial accompanying online workshop is planned for August 13, 2026.
The “Guideline on subsidies for green inland navigation” has been published in the Federal Gazette (PDF, 10 pages).
Photos
Shipping on the Upper Rhine: The Federal Ministry of Transport provides funding for conversions to hydrogen or methanol propulsion. © Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute
