Solar with storage for local authorities and institutions: €650 million, submissions 28 Sept–20 Nov

Public entities in Romania (UATs, ADIs, public hospitals, state universities, public institutions and other categories) can submit projects online to AFIR, between 28 September 2026, 10:00, and 20 November 2026, 23:59, for solar power plants with integrated storage and for batteries connected to existing plants. The total budget of the two calls under the Modernisation Fund is 650 million euro. Funding covers up to 100% of eligible costs, capped at 10 million euro per beneficiary, and projects are evaluated on a "first come, first evaluated" basis.

In brief

• Programme: Modernisation Fund, Key Programme 1 – Renewable energy sources and energy storage
• Authority: Ministry of Energy; implemented through AFIR
• Beneficiaries: public entities: local authorities (UAT) and their subdivisions, ADIs, public institutions, hospitals funded entirely from public funds, state universities, research and development institutes, recognised religious denominations, and partnerships between them
• Total budget: 650 million euro, of which 500 million euro for solar with integrated storage for self-consumption and 150 million euro for storage
• Value per project / intensity: up to 100% of eligible costs, maximum 10 million euro per beneficiary (including participation in partnerships)
• Submission period: 28 September 2026, 10:00 – 20 November 2026, 23:59, or until the budget is exhausted
• Status: calls launched, and submission opens on 28 September 2026 at depunerepspac.afir.ro

What do the two calls fund?

Call 1 (500 million euro) funds new electricity generation capacity from solar sources, with integrated storage, intended for the public entity's self-consumption. Eligible items are solar installations and equipment with storage, heat pumps, related construction, installation and commissioning. The ceilings are 900,000 euro per installed MW, excluding VAT, for projects without heat pumps and 1,100,000 euro per installed MW, excluding VAT, for those with heat pumps. Projects must be implemented by 31 December 2029.

Call 2 (150 million euro) funds new "behind-the-meter" storage systems connected to an existing renewable energy installation, for self-consumption or consumption optimisation. The guide imposes several strict technical conditions:

• storage duration must be between 2 and 4 hours relative to the installed capacity of the existing plant (2 × P_RES ≤ E_use ≤ 4 × P_RES);
• depth of discharge (DoD) must be at least 80%, and round-trip efficiency at least 85%;
• the aid requested cannot exceed 200,000 euro per installed MWh, excluding VAT;
• lead, NiCd and NiMH batteries, equipment without CE marking, and the full replacement of existing storage capacity ("rip & replace") are excluded.

Who can apply?

According to the storage guide, the following can apply: administrative-territorial units and their subdivisions, defence, public order and national security units, penitentiary system units, hospitals funded entirely from public funds, public institutions as defined by Law no. 500/2002 (excluding state-owned autonomous companies and companies), recognised religious denominations, state universities, public-law research and development institutes, inter-community development associations, social and palliative care centres funded entirely from public funds, the National Sports Agency and the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee.

Each applicant may submit one project and may be a member of no more than three partnerships. The ceiling of 10 million euro includes both the applicant's own project and the amounts in partnerships. Public authorities that are unable to pay their debts or are insolvent cannot receive funding.

How and by when do you apply?

Applications are submitted exclusively online, on the AFIR platform depunerepspac.afir.ro, starting 28 September 2026, 10:00. AFIR states that the funding application form becomes available only when the call window opens, and the system automatically invalidates any other format, including forms from the public consultation period. Applications completed in an unrealistically short time may be invalidated as automatically generated.

Selection follows the chronological order of submission, and projects move to contracting as they pass the administrative and eligibility checks, within the budget. The call window may close before 20 November if the budget is exhausted. AFIR notes that the allocation may be increased, depending on the compliant applications received. No amount has yet been announced for a possible increase.

What costs does the storage call cover?

In the storage call, the eligible costs include, among others, site preparation, utilities, studies, permits, design, site supervision, construction and installations, equipment, site organisation, and miscellaneous and contingency costs. Consultancy and project management are eligible up to 20,000 euro excluding VAT. VAT is eligible only if it is non-deductible. Land purchase, the organisation of procurement procedures, fees and the cost of credit, and operating costs are not eligible.

What this means for your business

For town halls, county councils, ADIs and public institutions, our recommendation is to treat this call as a race against the clock. The "first come, first evaluated" rule favours applicants who already have, by 28 September, the approved feasibility study, the decision approving the technical and economic indicators, and the documents concerning the land or building.

• Check the sizing. For storage, the 2–4 hour range relative to the existing plant is an eligibility condition. A battery that is too small or too large leads to the project being rejected.
• The feasibility study must be submitted as a searchable PDF, with a minimum parameters sheet that names no equipment brands.
• Do not use old forms from the consultation. Download the application from the platform only after the call window opens.
• Calculate the budget within the ceilings (euro/MW for solar, euro/MWh for storage). Any excess is borne by the beneficiary.

A UAT without an existing photovoltaic plant generally falls under the 500 million euro call, while a UAT that already has panels can consider the storage call. For a quick assessment of where you fit, you can use the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can private companies apply to these calls?

No. The calls are intended exclusively for the public entities listed in the guide, such as UATs, ADIs, public institutions, public hospitals and state universities. Autonomous companies and state-owned companies are excluded.

How much must the town hall contribute from its own budget?

Funding covers up to 100% of eligible costs, capped at 10 million euro per beneficiary. The town hall pays from its own budget only the ineligible costs and any amounts exceeding the per-MW or per-MWh ceilings.

Can I submit after 20 November 2026?

No. The deadline is 20 November 2026, 23:59, and the call window may close earlier if the budget is exhausted. Projects submitted outside the period are automatically rejected.

Can I fund batteries for a photovoltaic plant I already have?

Yes, through the 150 million euro storage call, provided the system is new, connected behind the meter to the existing plant and sized for a storage duration of between 2 and 4 hours.

By when must the project be completed?

For the solar with storage call, the launch announcement provides for implementation by 31 December 2029.

Official sources

• AFIR – Press release: 650 million euro for renewable energy production and storage by public entities
• EU funding opportunities – Launch of the solar with integrated storage call for public entities
• OME no. 1.065/2026 – Applicant's guide for energy storage, public entities (Official Gazette no. 774 bis/11.09.2026)

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.