Subsidy scheme for electrification of inland vessels - ZES Concept

The Dutch Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) has made €15.1 million available for the development and transformation of inland vessels in line with the ZES concept for fully electric sailing. Thanks to the National Growth Fund, the "Zero-Emission Inland Shipping, Battery Electric" project is being funded

Money has been allocated from the National Growth Fund to the project “Zero Emission Inland Shipping, battery-electric”. This project aims to allow inland vessels to sail emission-free using modular energy containers. To make this way of sailing affordable for inland skippers, MBF Member, Zero Emission Services BV (ZES) has developed a new business model based on the “pay per use” principle. The Temporary Subsidy Scheme for Electrification of Inland Shipping Vessels makes money available to allow more ships to sail within the ZES concept.

Purpose of the scheme

The intention is to award a subsidy for the conversion or conversion of a ship to an electric drivetrain, which will make the ship suitable for sailing within the ZES concept - and will do so.

In concrete terms, this concerns the installation of electric propulsion systems. In addition, components that are necessary compared to a conventional (diesel) drive are also permitted. The ship must sail fully electrically within the ZES concept with interchangeable battery containers. It is also the intention that the ship obtains an inland shipping emission label of at least B1 upon first issue and at least A0 on 01-07-2026.

In any case, battery containers (a skipper within the ZES concept does not purchase these himself) and combustion engines are excluded from subsidy.