A project to install Electric Ground Power Units (GPUs) for aircraft at Larnaca and Paphos airports is among 39 initiatives selected for European Union funding. This initiative is part of the EU’s broader effort to support alternative fuel infrastructure in road, maritime, and air transport.

The proposed funding for the Cyprus-based project amounts to approximately €3.6 million, provided through the Connecting Europe Facility’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). In total, the EU is mobilizing €422 million for alternative fuel infrastructure projects, according to a European Commission press release.

The 39 selected projects will focus on installing public electric charging stations, including high-power megawatt chargers for both heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles. Additionally, they will develop hydrogen refueling stations, onshore power installations in ports, and infrastructure for alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol for maritime transport. Airports will also see electrification efforts to reduce emissions from ground operations.

In Cyprus, Hermes Airports is coordinating the project, which aims to install 14 fixed power units and provide 17 mobile GPUs at Larnaca Airport. At Paphos Airport, the project will include 17 fixed power units and five mobile GPUs. These upgrades will contribute to reducing the environmental impact of airport operations by enabling aircraft to use electric power instead of fuel-consuming auxiliary engines while stationed on the ground.

AFIF operates through an ongoing rolling call for proposals. The current call, launched on February 29, 2024, recently completed its first evaluation round. The next deadline for submissions is June 11, 2025, with approximately €578 million in remaining funding available for successful proposals.

In a written statement, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating that the selected projects “will add nearly 5,000 new charging points, including 626 megawatt chargers, helping citizens choose zero-emission vehicles and contribute to a cleaner environment.”