Innovation, Grants & Incentives Alert: Commission and EIB approve Polish scheme to support investments in electromobility
The European Investment Bank has approved applications for the largest funding pool to date.
The EIB has approved applications for the largest funding pool to date.
Poland has notified the European Commission of a range of programs aimed at supporting the country's energy transition process. On October 3, the European Commission approved the last program from those submitted, which concerns energy storage. As a result, the European Investment Bank has accepted applications for the largest funding allocation from the Modernization Fund to date, amounting to PLN 10 billion. The conditions for granting aid will be specified in regulations issued by the Minister of Climate and Environment, which will concern funds from the Modernization Fund and the National Recovery Plan (, drafts of these regulations are currently undergoing legislative review). These regulations will provide the national legal basis for granting public aid as well as grounds for the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management to launch priority programs and calls for funding applications.
Among the submitted draft programs are:
"Support of the construction and/or expansion of publicly available recharging stations for heavy duty transport"
The program, with a total support amount of PLN 2 billion, aims to accelerate the development of electric vehicle recharging infrastructure in Poland, with a particular focus on heavy transport. The call for applications, planned still for 2024, will be directed at enterprises. The program provides funding in the form of grants, which can cover up to 100% of eligible costs.
The call will support activities including the construction of publicly available DC recharging stations for heavy-duty vehicles. Investments along the TEN-T core network have to include at least two recharging points with an individual output power of at least 350 kW. In contrast, investments within a logistics center (DEPOT), intermodal terminal, or operating center have to include at least one charging point with an individual output power of at least 350 kW.
The program also supports the upgrade of publicly available DC recharging stations for heavy-duty vehicles, resulting in increasing their capacity. Investments along the TEN-T core network have to include at least two recharging points with an individual output power of at least 350 kW, while investments within a logistics center (DEPOT), intermodal terminal, or operating center have to include at least one charging point with an individual output power of at least 350 kW.
Eligible costs include, in particular, assembly and construction costs, supply installation costs, costs of purchasing fixed assets directly related to the construction/expansion of recharging stations or the cost of their production (excluding the costs of construction and modernization of renewable energy installations).
„Electricity storage facilities and related infrastructure for improving the stability of the Polish electricity grid”
The program, with a total support amount of over PLN 4 billion, aims to improve the stability of the National Power Grid and strengthen Poland’s energy security.
The call for applications, planned for December 2024, will be directed at enterprises, excluding entities from the financial sector. The program provides funding in the form of grants, which can cover up to 45% of eligible costs. The aid intensity can be increased by 20 percentage points for small enterprises and by 10 percentage points for medium-sized enterprises.
The call will support activities including the construction of electricity storage facilities, with a capacity component of not less than 2 MW and capable of storing no less than 4 MWh of electricity, having EU CER and fire safety certification and approval (e.g., battery containers, inverter stations, transformers, installation of battery modules, supporting systems, such as detection systems, fire detection systems, air conditioning systems, DC/DC or DC/AC converters, or active and inactive protection mechanisms), along with tests and acceptance of storage facilities; construction of a grid connection and associated infrastructure; configuration and adaptation of a storage facility (BMS, EMS, mapping in monitoring systems, creating remote access to devices and/or data, certification and approval of the energy storage facility according to EU standards, etc.).
Applicants will not be required to provide grid connection conditions at the application submission stage; however, this will be necessary before the first disbursement of the grant.
"Construction and expansion of Power Grids for High-Power Public Recharging Stations"
The program, with a total support amount of over PLN 2 billion, aims to support the development of the power infrastructure necessary for the construction of high-power public recharging stations located along the TEN-T core network, in logistics centers, operating centers, and intermodal terminals. The call for applications within the program will be directed at Distribution System Operators. The funding in the form of grants can cover up to 100% of eligible costs.
The program supports activities related to the construction and expansion of infrastructure necessary to provide power to recharging stations, including the power grid and associated infrastructure. The call will also support actions related to the construction and expansion of power supplies with a current capacity guaranteeing a power output of no less than 350 kW, delivered at least to the boundary of the property where the high-power public charging stations are planned to be built in logistics centers (DEPOT), operating centers, or intermodal terminals, or within a driving distance of up to 3 km from these facilities. These actions will include, in particular, , expansion, modernization, and construction of new transformer and distribution stations at all voltage levels necessary to ensure power supply, expansion and modernization of existing transformer or distribution stations, including transformer replacements and improvements to the supervision and control system (including monitoring), construction, reconstruction, and expansion of high-voltage (HV), medium-voltage (MV), and low-voltage (LV) power lines (both overhead and cable), provision and development of metering systems, network automation, communication systems, and IT systems that enable or improve the conditions for monitoring and visualizing the network's operational status to adapt it to the increased saturation of electric vehicle charging stations.
"Support for purchasing or leasing of N2 and N3 Zero-Emission Vehicles
The program, with a total support amount of over PLN 2 billion, aims to reduce air pollution emissions by funding investments targeted at lowering the consumption of emission-intensive fuels in transportation. This initiative supports the purchase or leasing of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, contributing to improved air quality and sustainable transportation development in Poland.
The program is directed at entrepreneurs who can apply for grants for the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles or subsidies for the initial leasing fee. The purchased or leased vehicles must be brand new.
The program provides funding of up to PLN 400,000 for zero-emission vehicles in category N2, with a total weight ranging from 3.5 tons to 12 tons, and up to PLN 750,000 for vehicles in category N3, with a total weight exceeding 12 tons. The grant can cover from 30% to 60% of eligible costs, depending on the type of entity applying for the funding, the vehicle category, and the allowable amount of public aid.
The approval of the above programs by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank represents a crucial step towards achieving Poland's ambitious energy transition goals. These funds will support electromobility and the development of energy infrastructure, contributing to improved air quality and sustainable development in the country.
More information about the programs and detailed guidelines for the application process will be available on the NFOŚiGW (National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management) website.
How can we assist you?
KPMG experts from the Innovation, Grants & Incentives group possess vast experience in advising on the effective acquisition of financial support in the form of grants, incentives, and subsidies.
Our team will help you prepare the project, from the initial concept stage, through the preparation of the application for support, the evaluation stage, to the correct settlement of the incurred expenses.
We encourage you to contact us regarding the above calls, as well as other ventures (including projects related to enterprise development or R&D activities).
