Shippingtelegraph: EU backs €103m Dutch aid for methanol and hydrogen ships

Published by shippingtelegraph

The European Commission has approved a €103m Dutch state aid scheme to support cleaner and zero-emission vessels using renewable methanol or renewable hydrogen.

The scheme will support the purchase of new clean and zero-emission vessels powered by renewable methanol or renewable hydrogen and the retrofitting of existing vessels to enable them use renewable methanol and renewable hydrogen, the EC said in a statement on Monday.

It covers different types of vessels, including passenger, cargo and work vessels, mainly operating in the short-sea shipping segment.

Support will be provided through direct grants awarded via an open and non-discriminatory selection process.

The scheme aims to help companies overcome high upfront investment costs and limited market incentives that currently slow the uptake of clean shipping technologies.

The aid will be granted between 2027 and 2031 and will help bridge the investment gap in line with the objectives of EU legislation such as the FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emission Trading System.

The Commission said the scheme was “necessary” and “appropriate” because the supported investments would not take place without public support at the same scale and within the same timeframe.