Deadline Date: December 31, 2027
The Sustainable Ground Power Supply at Airports 2026 program supports Austrian civil airports with international air traffic in transitioning to sustainable, emission-free ground power systems powered by renewable electricity to reduce environmental impacts and improve working conditions.
The program focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air pollutant emissions, lowering noise pollution on airport aprons, transitioning ground power supply to emission-free systems powered by renewable energy, promoting sustainability and environmental protection, improving working conditions for airport employees, ensuring safe operation of funded equipment for people of different heights and physical abilities, supporting stationary ground power systems, mobile electrically powered Ground Power Units (e-GPUs), and mobile or stationary Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems.
The program has a total budget of EUR 3,000,000 to support Austria’s civil airports with international air traffic in adopting sustainable ground power infrastructure. Funding is available for projects that replace conventional ground power solutions with environmentally friendly systems powered by renewable electricity.
Eligible applicants are the operating companies of Austrian civil airports with international air traffic that are part of the TEN-T core network, supplemented by the National Strategic Framework for Austria for the implementation of AFIR.
Funding is available under three separate call categories. These include stationary ground power systems, mobile electrically powered Ground Power Units (e-GPUs), and mobile or stationary Pre-Conditioned Air (PCA) systems. Applicants may submit proposals for a single category or combine measures from multiple categories within one funding application. Multiple applications from the same legal entity are also permitted where separate implementation schedules make this appropriate.
Applications must be submitted before the first legally binding order or any irreversible investment commitment is made. Only planning services completed before this point may be recognized. All funded work must be carried out by qualified specialist companies in accordance with applicable professional standards and regulations.
The electricity used to operate funded systems must be verifiably sourced entirely from renewable energy. Renewable electricity generation facilities, particularly photovoltaic systems, and electricity storage systems are eligible only to the extent necessary to supply stationary ground power systems, e-GPUs, or PCA systems. Existing stationary ground power systems or e-GPUs may also receive funding for renewable electricity generation and storage facilities where these are required to meet operational energy needs.
Electricity storage systems must be installed at the same metering point as the renewable electricity generation facility and must receive at least 75% of their annual energy directly from the connected renewable generation plant. In addition, all funded equipment and machinery must comply with all applicable airport ground equipment regulations and standards, with documented confirmation of compliance.
For more information, visit Climate and Energy Fund.
