Modernisation Fund: public entities requested €702.8 million, with storage over budget

By 16 October 2026, town halls, hospitals, schools and other public entities had submitted 2,238 funding applications to AFIR (Agency for the Financing of Rural Investments), worth €702,839,043. The money comes from the two calls under the Modernisation Fund, which together total €650 million. The energy storage call has drawn requests for €307.3 million, more than twice its €150 million allocation. In the call for photovoltaics with storage for self-consumption, applications worth €395.6 million are still below the €500 million budget. The call window remains open until 20 November 2026 at 23:59, and applications are assessed in the order in which they were submitted.

In brief

• Programme: Modernisation Fund. There are two calls: solar energy production with integrated storage for self-consumption, and new storage capacity, both for public entities
• Authority: the Ministry of Energy provides the funding and AFIR (Agency for the Financing of Rural Investments) implements it
• Beneficiaries: local authorities (UAT), public hospitals, public institutions, state universities, research institutes, recognised religious denominations, and partnerships between them
• Total budget: €500 million for self-consumption and €150 million for storage
• Value per project / intensity: up to 100% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €10 million per beneficiary
• Submission period: 28 September 2026, 10:00 – 20 November 2026, 23:59
• Status: on 16 October there were 1,332 self-consumption applications (€395,566,748) and 906 storage applications (€307,272,295)

What do the AFIR figures show?

The two calls are moving at different speeds. On 2 October, after the first five days, AFIR reported almost 2,000 applications: 1,056 for self-consumption, worth €311 million, and 824 for storage, worth €283 million. By 16 October, self-consumption applications had grown to €395.6 million. Storage applications grew less, to €307.3 million.

AFIR states that assessment is carried out "in the chronological order of submission in the IT system, until the allocation of each call is fully used". The storage allocation is already covered twice over by the applications submitted. The announcement does not say whether applications exceeding the allocation will be placed on a reserve list.

What does each call fund?

Photovoltaics with storage for self-consumption (€500 million). The call funds new solar energy production capacity, with integrated storage, for the institution's own consumption. A heat pump can also be purchased. The ceiling is €900,000 per installed MW, or €1.1 million per MW if the project includes heat pumps. Projects must be completed by 31 December 2029.

Storage (€150 million). The call funds new storage capacity connected to an existing renewable energy installation, for self-consumption or consumption optimisation. In both calls, the list of eligible beneficiaries also includes prisons, intercommunity development associations, public social centres, the National Agency for Sport and the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

How and by when do you apply?

Applications are submitted online, on the AFIR platform, until 20 November 2026 at 23:59. The guides and annexes are available on afir.ro, in the Modernisation Fund section. AFIR points out that incomplete applications are rejected automatically and that submitting an application does not guarantee approval.

What this means for your institution

Our recommendation for local authorities (UAT) and institutions that have not yet applied:

• Self-consumption: applications can still be submitted, but time is short. Between 2 and 16 October, applications grew by around €85 million. If the pace continues, the €500 million allocation could be used up before 20 November. This is our own estimate, not official information. A complete application submitted this week matters more than a perfect one submitted in November.
• Storage: applications submitted now have little chance, because they are assessed after the 906 existing applications, which already exceed the allocation. They are only worth submitting if the documentation is ready and you accept the risk. A better option may be a photovoltaic project with integrated storage under the self-consumption call, if the institution has a suitable roof or plot of land.
• The common pitfall: an application rejected for missing documents loses you your place in the queue. Check the mandatory annexes in the guide before you press the submit button.

For other funding sources for energy projects, you can take the eligibility check or read the programme sheet Modernisation Fund — solar with storage and batteries for town halls and public institutions.

Frequently asked questions

Can applications still be submitted to the Modernisation Fund for public entities?

Yes. Both calls remain open until 20 November 2026 at 23:59. For storage, however, the applications submitted by 16 October total €307.3 million, while the allocation is €150 million. As assessment follows the order of submission, new applications have a low chance of being funded.

How much can a town hall receive?

The aid can cover up to 100% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €10 million per beneficiary. For the self-consumption call, a further cap of €900,000 per installed MW applies, or €1.1 million per MW if the project includes heat pumps.

How are projects selected?

Projects are not scored. AFIR assesses applications in the order in which they were submitted in the IT system, until the allocation of each call runs out. Incomplete applications are rejected automatically.

Can an institution without photovoltaic panels apply to the storage call?

No. The storage call funds new capacity connected to an existing renewable energy installation. An institution without such an installation can turn to the call for solar energy production with integrated storage for self-consumption.

Official sources

• AFIR: Applications worth over €700 million for energy production and storage by public entities (16.10.2026)
• AFIR: Status of submitted projects for energy storage and self-consumption, public beneficiaries
• AFIR: Modernisation Fund — guides and annexes
• AFIR: Details and annexes — energy storage, public beneficiaries
• EU funding opportunities: launch of the call for solar energy with integrated storage for self-consumption, public entities
• Ministry of Energy: launch of the self-consumption call, public entities
• Ministry of Energy: launch of the storage call, public entities

Information checked on 17 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.