Transport is the largest consumer of energy in the Valencian Region. It accounts for 40% of all the energy consumed in our territory, with the aggravating circumstance that, for the most part, it uses petroleum derivatives as an energy source, the cause of most of the polluting gases. The aim is therefore to facilitate the transition to a new, more sustainable type of mobility in which forms of transport that are not dependent on oil derivatives take centre stage.

In this way, subsidies will be granted for sustainable mobility projects that contribute to improving the air quality of our cities, such as the recovery of spaces for pedestrians, the implementation of car-sharing systems, school routes and shuttle bus services, among others.

 Support for Smart City platforms

As a novelty, the Ivace will also support Smart City platforms that collect city information, promoting interoperability between the different municipal services in a way that allows their management, promoting digitalisation and allowing citizens to benefit from intelligent environments.

To be considered eligible, these platforms must integrate the optimal and efficient management of mobility in the territories. In the case of extensions of existing platforms, only those aimed at implementing or modifying the optimal and efficient management of mobility will be eligible. The implementation of public bicycle systems in municipalities and interurban areas will also be supported. These systems will be oriented to daily mobility and especially to "forced" mobility, i.e. commuting for work and study purposes.

Sustainable urban logistics projects will be eligible for submission, which will enable loading and unloading to be managed more sustainably, as well as the implementation of intelligent urban public transport systems that contribute to improving the efficiency of urban public transport fleets and encourage greater use of public transport. Moreover, the modernisation of the fleet of transport-related public service vehicles will be promoted to take advantage of the increased energy efficiency of new vehicles powered by electric energy and alternative fuels.

Thus, the acquisition of electric, fuel cell, hybrid, hydrogen-powered and hydrogen-powered buses and trucks for public use will be supported. Finally, financial support will also be given to projects for the implementation of "hydrogenerators" (hydrogen refuelling stations).

For us, it is always a pleasure to stand out in how countries and regions succeed with the cooperation of regional actors like IVACE. We are confident that Spain and the Valencian region will be at the forefront of renewable technologies shortly as their actions have shown us.