Subsidy scheme for the electrification of inland waterway vessels

With the Temporary Subsidy Scheme for the Electrification of Inland Waterway Vessels, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has made €15.1 million available for the construction and conversion of inland waterway vessels that can sail fully electrically within the so-called ZES concept.

Funding has been allocated from the National Growth Fund to the project "Zero-Emission Inland Shipping, Battery-Electric." This project aims to enable inland vessels to sail emission-free with the help of modular energy containers. To make this method of sailing affordable for inland skippers, the company Zero Emission Services BV (ZES) has developed a new business model based on the "pay per use" principle. The Temporary Subsidy Scheme for the Electrification of Inland Waterway Vessels makes funds available to enable more vessels to operate within the ZES concept.

Purpose of the scheme

The intention is to grant subsidies for the conversion of a ship to an electric propulsion system, which will make the ship suitable for sailing within the ZES concept – and which it will do.
Specifically, this involves the installation of electric propulsion systems. In addition, components that are necessary in relation to a conventional (diesel) propulsion system are also permitted. The ship must sail entirely electrically within the ZES concept with exchangeable battery containers. The ship is also intended to obtain an inland waterway emission label of B2 for inland vessels that comply with Stage V emission standards and at least B3 for ships that do not comply with Stage V emission standards.

In any case, battery containers (which skippers do not purchase themselves within the ZES concept) and combustion engines are excluded from subsidies.

Submitting an application
The scheme will open three more times:

  • in 2025 from May 28, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to July 31, 2025, 12:00 p.m.;
  • in 2025, from September 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to October 15, 2025, 12:00 p.m.;
  • in 2026 from January 15, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to March 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

You can apply for a subsidy by sending the application form and the other required attachments to secretariaat@eicb.nl.

Submitting an application

The scheme will open three more times:

  • in 2025 from May 28, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to July 31, 2025, 12:00 p.m.;
  • in 2025, from September 1, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to October 15, 2025, 12:00 p.m.;
  • in 2026 from January 15, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to March 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

You can apply for a subsidy by sending the application form and the other required attachments to secretariaat@eicb.nl.

Application requirements & reporting obligations
The requirements that your application must meet, and that your final report must comply with, are included in the regulations.

Please note: this is an advance payment scheme. Applicants are responsible for complying with the requirements of the scheme. Failure to comply may result in the subsidy amount being reclaimed. It is advisable to report any changes to the submitted plans as soon as possible.

Downloads

Amounts

The scheme has €7,397,000 available for 2025. For 2026, €3,698,000 is available:

  • Subsidy per vessel: max. €550,000 for newbuilds & diesel-electric retrofits & max. €750,000 for retrofits of ships that currently still sail with conventional combustion engine propulsion.
  • Additional subsidy for an industrial research project: max. €75,000.
    Subsidy percentage per vessel: 40% for regular projects, 50% for specific costs for an industrial research project (see the regulation, Article 4, Paragraphs 6 & 7). For medium-sized companies, the subsidy for industrial research projects can be increased by 10%, and for small companies by 20%.

Distribution

The distribution of funds is based on criteria.

For regular projects:

  • emission-free;
  • clean;
  • completion period;
  • plan and justification.

For industrial research projects:

  • scalability;
  • knowledge transfer;
  • complementarity to the construction or conversion of an inland waterway vessel.

Ten points can be awarded for each criterion mentioned. The score for each application is determined by dividing the points awarded by the maximum number of points available. This allows regular projects and industrial research projects to be assessed on an equal basis.

Assessment takes place per application period after the closing date. The exact time of submission within the application period does not factor into the assessment (there is no first-come, first-served principle).