Draft decree on support for distribution infrastructure for high-power charging and hydrogen refuelling sent out for comments

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests comments on the draft decree amending the Government Decree on Infrastructure Support for Electric Transport, Biogas and Use of Renewable Hydrogen in Transport between 2022 and 2025 (Distribution Infrastructure Decree). Comments can be submitted at Lausuntopalvelu.fi until 20 June 2024.

The aim of the support programme is to promote the EU’s targets concerning a sufficient coverage of electricity recharging pools and hydrogen refuelling stations for heavy-duty vehicles. The targets have been set in Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU (AFIR).

In future, support would only be targeted to recharging pools for heavy-duty vehicles (such as vehicle combinations and buses) and hydrogen refuelling stations for all types of vehicles. The support should be targeted to projects that in the best way promote the formation of a market of alternative fuels for heavy-duty vehicles, i.e. fuels other than traditional petrol and diesel. 

The introduction of alternative fuels for heavy-duty vehicles is still in the piloting stage. A sufficient recharging and refuelling network is a key requirement for the wider use of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The refuelling points for liquefied and compressed biogas that have proven problematic would be excluded from the support under the decree due to the state aid rules, and so would the charging point projects for local public transport. In order to fulfil the binding targets of AFIR concerning the coverage of recharging and refuelling points, the competitive tendering procedure would be changed so that recharging pools and refuelling stations should be at a certain distance from each other to be eligible for the support. 

The amendments to the Distribution Infrastructure Decree should enter into force on 3 September 2024.

Inquiries: 
Olli Salo, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 322, [email protected]
Pekka Grönlund, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 064 815, [email protected]