BENEFIC Closing Conference

The BENEFIC Closing Conference aims to change views on and discuss alternative fuels for transport and corresponding infrastructures, and (future) regional, national and European policies.

Taking place in Brussels (Herman Teirlinck building - Av. du Port 88, 1000 Bruxelles) on 28 November 2023, the BENEFIC Closing Conference will shed light on the impressive work of the BrussEls NEtherlands Flanders Implementation of Clean power for transport - BENEFIC project, an innovative cross-border project for developing charging and refuelling infrastructure for alternative fuels for transport.

The goal of BENEFIC has been to accelerate the realisation of infrastructure for environmentally friendly vehicles and vessels, especially considering that the (perceived or realistic) insufficient recharging and refuelling infrastructure is still felt as a barrier when choosing an environmentally friendly vehicle. With funds from the Connecting Europe Facility programme of the European Union, the Brussels Capital Region, the Dutch national government, and the Flemish government initiated BENEFIC to support the rollout of infrastructure, such as electric recharging stations for normal and (super)fast charging, LNG-CNG refuelling points, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, and shore power installations for inland navigation.

Why should you participate

Participating in the Conference is free of charge.

The Conference will be a great opportunity to meet the BENEFIC grant applicants and hear about their experience and their projects within BENEFIC, as well as other stakeholders who are investigating the future of European policy initiatives and infrastructure funding for alternative fuels for transport. Moreover, the project partners will share the results and lessons learned from the BENEFIC project.

To register for the Conference, click here.

Programme

Hosted By: Virginie Claes

11:45 - 13:00 Arrival And Networking Lunch
13:00 - 13:10 Introduction
Secretary General Ir. Filip Boelaert (Flemish Department Of Mobility And Public Works)
13:10 - 13:15 Video Message From Political Representatives
BENEFIC Partners
13:15 - 14:15 Presentation Of BENEFIC Projects
> Shore Power Infrastructure (North Sea Port Flanders) by Thomas Desnijder (Projectleader Energy Transition & Sustainability)
> Hydrogen Infrastructure (H2point) by Paul Smits (Director Tankpunt BV)
> (Ultra-) Fast Charging Infrastructure (Gabriëls) by Ignace Gabriëls (Manager Gabriels & Co nv)
> (Ultra-) Fast Charging Infrastructure (Fastned) by Tuur De Conninck (Country manager Belgium)
> Normal Charging Infrastructure (Interparking) by Tom Vandeweghe (Head of EV Charging Exploitation Belgium)
14:15 - 15:00 Deployment Of Infrastructure For Alternative Fuels Alongside The TEN-T: Past & Future Perspectives In Flanders Region And The Netherlands
Tom Debruyn (Policy Officer (Flanders), Flemish Road And Traffic Agency)
Bregtje Dikker (Program Manager 'Service Areas of the Future', Dutch Ministry For Infrastructure And Water Management)
15:00 - 15:30 Networking Break
15:30 - 16:30 Evaluation And Recommendations BENEFIC
Simon Ruyters (BENEFIC Coordinator, Flemish Department Of Mobility And Public Works)
16:30 - 17:00 Panel Discussion On Future EU Policies And Funding Programmes For Alternative Transport Fuels
Richard Ferrer (Head Of Alternative Fuel Sector, European Climate, Infrastructure And Environment Executive Agency)
Axel Volkery (Deputy Head of Unit of Unit B.4 "Sustainable and Intelligent Transport", European Commission DGMove)
Els de Wit (Strategic Advisor Smart and Sustainable Transport, Dutch Ministry Of Infrastructure And Water Management Of The Netherlands)
Jochen de Smet (President EV Belgium)
17:00 - 18:00 Closing Cocktail