Romania Approves €650 Million to Accelerate Solar and Battery Storage in Public Buildings

BUCHAREST, Romania — September 10, 2026 — The Romanian government has approved two new subsidy programs worth a combined €650 million to support solar and battery energy storage deployment at public institutions.

Financed through the country’s Modernisation Fund, the programs will provide financial support for both new solar-plus-storage installations and battery systems added to existing renewable energy facilities.

The first program, valued at €500 million, will support new solar PV installations designed primarily for self-consumption at public buildings. Battery storage will be mandatory, with systems required to provide between two and four hours of operation. Eligible projects may also include heat pumps.

A second program, worth €150 million, will target public institutions that already have renewable energy generation facilities. Funding will support the installation of behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems to store electricity generated by existing self-consumption installations.

Eligible applicants include municipalities, county councils, public hospitals, state universities and other public institutions. Subsidies can cover up to 100% of eligible project costs, subject to a maximum allocation of €10 million per beneficiary.

The application period is scheduled to open on September 11, 2026, and close on November 6, or earlier if available funding is fully allocated. Project evaluation will take place between November 9, 2026 and February 12, 2027, while supported investments must be completed and commissioned by the end of 2029.

The programs are intended not only to reduce energy costs for public institutions but also to improve the use of locally generated renewable electricity and reduce pressure on the electricity grid during periods of high demand.

The latest measures build on Romania’s broader efforts to expand renewable energy in the public sector. The country has also recorded rapid growth in solar capacity, surpassing 8.5 GW of installed solar capacity, with approximately 1.8 GW added during the first six months of 2026.

With mandatory battery storage incorporated into new public-sector solar projects, Romania is increasingly linking solar deployment with energy storage, self-consumption and grid flexibility, creating a significant new market opportunity for distributed BESS solutions.