Carbonbid
Got a plan to cut emissions? We’ll help you fund your ambitions! Submit your proposal and apply for funding of up to €700,000
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is launching Carbonbid: an initiative for all parties that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Rotterdam port area. Does your organisation have a clear and actionable reduction solution that can be implemented within four years? If so, you can apply for up to €700,000 in funding for your reduction proposal.
The best proposals will receive an implementation contract, with 40% of the requested amount paid upfront to help kick-start the project. In total, the port of Rotterdam is offering €3.5 million in funding through the Carbonbid initiative
Anyone who can reduce emissions in the Rotterdam port area is invited to participate.
Does your organisation have a solid reduction solution, but costs are blocking its execution? Then submit your proposal from May 6, 2025! Registration closes on 18 July 2025.
Do you have questions about Carbonbid? Sign up for the information session on 21 May from 9:30 to 11:00. location World Port Center Rotterdam. More information and official invite follows after signup.
How does it work?
Participation is easy
Does my solution qualify?
The minimum requirements
Carbonbid does not prescribe specific solutions or technologies: companies decide for themselves what is most effective, and they are responsible for implementation. Only the result counts: successful CO2e reduction is rewarded. However, the solution must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The project must be new and not have already started.
- The reduction must be implemented within the port emissions area and be completed by 2030.
- The solution must demonstrably achieve a reduction of at least 100 tonnes of CO2e.
- Funding is limited to a maximum of €300 per tonne of CO2e reduction and €700,000 per proposal.
More information and the minimum requirements can be found in the Carbonbid Tender Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I register and apply?
You can register for Carbonbid through the procurement platform, Mercell. Using your organisation’s Mercell account, you can participate in the Carbonbid tender and access all the necessary information. If you’re using Mercell for the first time, you’ll need to create an account using your organisation’s Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number.
Note: Participation in the tender grants access to information, but it does not count as registration. Formal registration for Carbonbid must be completed in the same portal, where you must also submit the required information and your proposal.
Registration closes on Friday 18 July 2025. Ensure that your proposal is complete, follows the templates, and is submitted on time to be considered.
More information can be found in the Carbonbid Tender Guide.
For technical questions about using Mercell, visit the support page https://support.mercell.com/space/MSTC or contact Mercell’s customer service.
How long does it take to participate?
The process consists of four phases, with each step requiring more detail about the solution described in your proposal. Roughly, the tasks involved are as follows:
Phase 1: Register, write and submit a proposal (maximum of two pages).
Phase 2: Prepare and submit your presentation and justification for the reduction, then present them to the jury (45 minutes).
Phase 3: A meeting with the accountant (approx. 1 hour) and any necessary information exchange.
Phase 4: Sign the implementation contract.
Sufficient time is allocated between the phases to prepare and submit the required materials.
The total timeline from the launch of Carbonbid to contract signing is approximately 10 months.
More information about the phases, planning, required preparations and submissions can be found in Chapter 3 of the Carbonbid Tender Guide.
When will I know if my proposal will proceed?
After the deadline for each phase, the proposals are assessed. Within a few weeks, you’ll receive a notification of whether your proposal will proceed to the next phase or has been rejected, along with the reasoning.
The final deadline to submit a proposal is 18 July 2025. The first announcement – indicating which proposals will proceed to Phase 2 – will be made on 1 August 2025.
All dates can be found on Mercell under 'Planning' and in Chapter 3 of the Carbonbid Tender Guide.
Can I modify my application after submission?
Yes, you can still modify and resubmit your proposal until the deadline of 18 July 2025. After the deadline, changes are no longer possible.
What is the bid price of my proposal?
In your proposal, you describe how you aim to achieve the reduction, how many tonnes of emissions you expect to reduce by 2030, and the funding required for implementation.
The requested amount divided by the expected reduction in tonnes is the bid price of your proposal, expressed in euros per tonne of CO2e.
The bid price is a key aspect of the proposal. The lower the cost per tonne of reduction, the more competitive your proposal.
The bid price is used to compare and rank the proposals. Contracts are awarded in order of bid price until the budget is depleted.
The bid price may not exceed €300 per tonne CO2e; proposals above this limit will not be eligible.
More information about the bid price and ranking can be found in Chapter 3 of the Carbonbid Tender Guide.
Can I apply if I only have an idea?
Carbonbid focuses on actionable, immediately executable solutions that will make an impact by 2030 within the Port Emissions Area. Feasibility studies, concepts, or technology development without implementation within this period are not eligible for Carbonbid.
What if the reduction is not achieved?
At the end of the implementation period, you must report the CO2 reduction achieved. This will be verified by an independent accountant. If the reduction is not achieved, the remaining payment will be adjusted based on the contract terms. If less than half the agreed reduction is achieved, the upfront payment will be reclaimed.
Therefore, it’s important to set realistic targets and account for uncertainties in execution within your proposal.
The contract outlining all terms and agreements is available on Mercell.
Where can I find more information?
You’ll find all relevant information in the document: Carbonbid Tender Guide. This includes the details needed to register for Carbonbid, the objectives of the initiative, the process and the proposal criteria. It also explains how evaluation and awarding work, as well as outlining rights and obligations.
All documentation, including the Carbonbid Tender Guide, required templates, and the contract, can be found on the Carbonbid tender platform via Mercell.
Through your organisation’s Mercell account, you can participate in the Carbonbid tender and access all information. First-time users must create a Mercell account using their Chamber of Commerce (KvK) number. For technical questions about using Mercell, visit https://support.mercell.com/space/MSTC or contact Mercell’s customer service
Stay informed & ask your questions
Want to stay up to date on Carbonbid? All updates, changes and deadlines are shared via our tender platform, Mercell. Do you have questions or want to learn more? Sign up for the information session on 21 May 2025, or submit your question through the Q&A page on Mercell.
Because Carbonbid is a European tender, all communication takes place centrally through Mercell – not through the Port of Rotterdam Authorities account managers. This ensures a level playing field. All questions and answers are shared publicly, so everyone receives the same information.
Still running into something you can’t resolve via Mercell? Contact the team.
About Carbonbid
Carbonbid is a pilot through which the Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to explore whether this form of funding is an effective way to accelerate emission reductions in the port area.
Carbonbid is part of a broader set of initiatives by the Port Authority to make the port climate-neutral and future-proof.