National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure

Ireland is committed to sustained action to tackle the climate crisis and to deliver on our ambitious climate goals, including decarbonisation of the transport sector. For the transport sector, the main framework to achieve national goals and targets is via the ‘avoid-shift-improve’ framework. In addition to reducing total vehicle kilometres driven, and increasing active travel and modal shift, alternative fuels and alternative fuels infrastructure, as elements of the ‘improve’ aspect, are critical to our pathway to a net zero economy in 2050.

The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) has been in force since 13 April 2024 and is an important part of the EU’s Fit for 55 policy package to reduce EU emissions by 55% by 2030 and make the EU climate-neutral by 2050.

The new Regulation establishes some updated mandatory minimum alternative fuels infrastructure targets and obligations, to ensure that a sufficient and inter-operable recharging and refuelling infrastructure network is in place across EU Member States.

AFIR sets targets and timeframes for the deployment of infrastructure in urban nodes and across the main transport corridors in each Member State (the Trans-European Network-Transport network (TEN-T), such as:

• electric vehicle recharging infrastructure for light- and heavy-duty vehicles;

• hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for road transport;

• on-shore electricity supply for certain vessels in our maritime ports;

• the supply of electricity to stationary aircraft in our airports.

Article 14 of AFIR requires EU Member States to prepare a national policy framework for development of the alternative fuels market and the deployment of the relevant infrastructure. Ireland’s updated policy framework will revise and replace the existing National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017-2030 to reflect the mandatory requirements set under AFIR.

Throughout the drafting of the National Policy Framework, there are a number of opportunities for engagement via public consultation to provide input on policies around alternative fuels and infrastructure for transport.

In May 2024, the Department of Transport launched a six-week public consultation seeking submissions on an Issues Paper that covered key policy considerations of AFIR. 30 submissions from transport and energy sector stakeholders were received and stakeholders were invited to a workshop.

Input from the consultation and the subsequent stakeholder workshop informed the first draft of the updated National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport, which was submitted to the EU Commission in December 2023, as required under Article 14 of AFIR – see below.

The Department intends to advance and publish a second draft of the national policy framework in Q2 of 2025 for public consultation. Responses and submissions from the public consultation, as well as the results of environmental assessments, will inform the final draft of the National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure. The final policy framework is required to be submitted to the EU Commission by 31 December 2025.

In November 2024, the Department of Transport engaged RPS Consulting Ltd. to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the revised National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure. The Department will engage with RPS Consulting Ltd. throughout 2025 to ensure that the SEA and AA processes inform and shape the final National Policy Framework.