Call window open Modernisation Fund — zero-emission freight locomotives and vessels (sub-measures 2 and 3)
Freight rail, maritime and inland waterway transport operators can apply for state aid for zero-emission vehicles: up to €18 million per undertaking and 10 vehicles per applicant. Applications are submitted in MySMIS 2021 by 16 November 2026.
- Who can apply
- Freight rail operators (sub-measure 2) and maritime or inland waterway operators, for passengers and freight (sub-measure 3)…
- Funding amount
- Maximum 18 million
- Submission period
- 14 Sep 2026 – 16 Nov 2026
Checked against official sources on · funder: Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure · official source
The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.
Who can apply
Freight rail operators (sub-measure 2) and maritime or inland waterway operators, for passengers and freight (sub-measure 3). The vehicle being replaced must have been owned and operated by the applicant for at least 12 months before submission. If a promise of sale and purchase is used, the vehicle documents belong to the seller who operated it in 2025.
What it covers
- Purchase of zero-emission vehicles for freight rail transport (sub-measure 2)
- Purchase of zero-emission vessels for maritime transport, for passengers and freight (sub-measure 3)
- Purchase of zero-emission vessels for inland waterways, for passengers and freight (sub-measure 3)
Apply in the current call window
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Until when can projects for zero-emission locomotives and vessels under the Modernisation Fund be submitted?
The calls for sub-measures 2 (freight rail) and 3 (maritime and inland waterways) opened on 14 September 2026. Projects are submitted through the MySMIS 2021 platform until 16 November 2026, according to the timetable published by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.
What is the maximum aid a company can receive?
State aid is a maximum of 18 million euro per undertaking. An applicant can finance no more than 10 vehicles, under one or more procedures of the scheme.
How many price quotes must be submitted for each vehicle?
For each type of vehicle, at least two price quotes are required, both for the zero-emission vehicle and for the vehicle in the counterfactual scenario. In exceptional, well-justified situations, a single quote may be accepted if the impossibility is proven with official documents or letters from the manufacturer.
Can the quote for the counterfactual vehicle come from a different manufacturer?
Yes, for sub-measures 2 and 3, if the manufacturer of the zero-emission vehicle does not produce the conventional version. In this case the technical and functional comparability requirements must be met, and the situation is proven with official documents from the manufacturer (MTI clarifications of 7 October 2026).
What conditions must the replaced vehicle meet?
The vehicle being replaced must have been owned and operated by the applicant for at least 12 months before submission. If the applicant does not yet own the vehicle, the bilateral promise of sale and purchase must be notarised, and the vehicle documents must belong to the seller who operated it in 2025.
When will the results be known and when will the contracts be signed?
According to the MTI timetable, the technical and economic assessment takes place between 17 November and 17 December 2026, and the results are published on 18 December 2026. Contracts are signed between 12 and 18 May 2027.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
Apply in the current call window — Modernisation Fund — zero-emission freight locomotives and vessels (sub-measures 2 and 3)
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
Other programmes
e-DRIVE — replacing the fleets of businesses and passenger transport vehicles with zero-emission vehicles
A scheme of 56.9 million euro from the Modernisation Fund. It funds up to 100% of eligible costs for M1, M2 and M3 electric vehicles replacing polluting vehicles. The scheme has been approved (OMTI 742/2026, 817/2026), but the guide and the calls have not yet been published.
Call window openModernisation Fund — stand-alone battery storage installations
The Ministry of Energy is funding new stand-alone battery storage installations with 150 million euro from the Modernisation Fund, for companies with CAEN code 35. Aid of up to 100%, max. 69,000 euro/MWh and 15 million euro per company. Submissions in MySMIS2021 by 30 October 2026, 14:00.
Opening soone-MOVE RO — charging infrastructure for zero-emission mobility
Non-refundable state aid of 262 million euro from the Modernisation Fund for electric charging stations for fleets and the public, with photovoltaics and storage. It is awarded through competitive tenders. The scheme has been approved, but the call has not yet been launched.