A project to install electric ground power units (GPUs) for aircraft at Larnaca and Paphos airports is among 39 projects to be funded by the European Union, it emerged on Friday.

The project’s aim is to support the development of alternative fuel infrastructure in road, maritime and air transport.

Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas said the project “will add nearly 5,000 new charging points, including 626 mega-watt chargers, helping citizens choose zero-emission vehicles and contribute to a cleaner environment,” EU-wide.

The project to be funded in Cyprus is being coordinated by Hermes Airports, and aims to install 14 fixed power units and provide 17 mobile GPUs at Larnaca airport, as well as 17 fixed power units and 5 mobile GPUs at Paphos airport.

The proposed subsidy for the project amounts to about €3.6 million from the Connecting Europe fund, through its specialised alternative fuels infrastructure facility (AFIF) by which the EU is investing a total of €422 million, according to a press release by the European Commission.

The 39 projects selected will focus on installing public electric recharging stations, including high-power megawatt chargers for both heavy- and light-duty vehicles, developing hydrogen refueling stations, and onshore power installations in ports, as well as electrifying airports and providing infrastructure for alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol for shipping.

AFIF operates through a continuous rolling call for proposals. The current call, launched on February 29, 2024, has just completed its first evaluation round. The next cut-off will be on June 11 this year, where the remaining budget of approximately €578 million in funding will be made available for successful proposals.