Public institutions and authorities have applied for more than 283 million euros in funding for energy storage systems, against an available budget of 150 million euros under the Modernisation Fund. According to data published by the Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) on 5 October, a total of 824 funding applications, worth 283,026,423 euros, had been submitted by 12:00 noon on 2 October 2026. The requested funding exceeds the programme’s initial allocation by almost 89%.
Demand for funding was already evident on the first day of the application window, which opened on 28 September. Just six hours after the launch, AFIR reported 690 applications for energy storage projects, totalling 241.4 million euros. The value of applications had therefore already exceeded the programme’s budget before the end of the first day.
However, the fact that applications exceed the available budget does not mean that the funds have already been committed or exhausted. Projects must still undergo evaluation, and funding will depend on compliance with eligibility requirements and the availability of funds.
Up to 10 million euros per beneficiary
The programme supports the installation of new behind-the-meter electricity storage systems connected to existing renewable energy generation facilities. Its objective is to increase self-consumption and optimise the use of locally generated electricity, rather than support the development of standalone commercial storage facilities.
According to the guidelines published by AFIR, eligible applicants, subject to the programme’s requirements, include local administrative authorities, hospitals funded entirely from public sources, public institutions, state universities, public research institutes, certain social care centres and other categories of public entities. The programme also allows partnerships between eligible beneficiaries.
Funding can cover up to 100% of eligible costs, with a ceiling of 10 million euros per beneficiary and 200,000 euros per MWh of installed storage capacity. The guidelines also establish technical requirements for sizing storage systems in relation to existing renewable energy installations.
AFIR considers increasing the funding allocation
Although applications have already exceeded the available budget, the submission window remains open, according to the announced timetable, until 20 November 2026, at 23:59. Projects are evaluated in chronological order of submission, until the allocated funds are fully exhausted. The “first submitted, first evaluated” principle does not guarantee funding before a project’s eligibility and documentation have been verified.
Adrian Chesnoiu, Director General of AFIR, said the agency is considering the possibility of increasing the available funding, subject to resources under the Modernisation Fund and a decision by the Ministry of Energy. Until an official decision is made, the programme’s budget remains 150 million euros.
The pressure on storage funding contrasts with the situation under the other funding call running in parallel for public entities. AFIR is also managing, through the Modernisation Fund, a 500 million euro funding call for new photovoltaic generation capacity with integrated storage systems, intended for self-consumption by public entities. By 2 October 2026, this funding line had received 1,056 applications worth a total of 311 million euros, according to AFIR data. Unlike the programme dedicated to adding batteries to existing renewable energy installations, the 500 million euro funding scheme supports integrated generation and storage projects, rather than battery storage systems alone.