State aid: Commission approves €3.3 million Danish scheme to support acquisition of alternatively fuelled vehicles and corresponding infrastructure for commercial transport sector

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3.3 million (approximately DKK 24 million) Danish scheme to support a nationwide programme for the purchase of alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles and corresponding refuelling infrastructure for the commercial road transport sector in Denmark. The measure will support either (i) the installation of refuelling/recharging infrastructure for alternative fuels for lorries, trucks and commercial vans; or (ii) the acquisition of lorries, trucks and commercial vans using alternative fuels in combination with the installation of refuelling/recharging infrastructure for those vehicles. Under the scheme, the support will take the form of non-repayable direct grants. The beneficiaries will be selected through an open and transparent bidding procedure. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, and in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, as well as the Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy. The Commission considers that the measure will encourage the uptake of alternatively fuelled commercial vehicles, thus contributing to the reduction of CO₂ and pollutant emissions, in line with the EU’s climate and environmental objectives, and the goals set by European Green Deal. Furthermore, the Commission found that the necessary safeguards limiting the aid to the minimum will be in place as the aid will be granted through a competitive bidding process. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.58036 in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.