Austria has opened a new funding call for solar and energy storage projects, in a clear sign of where the next stage of its energy transition is headed: less focus on adding capacity and more attention on how to manage renewable electricity efficiently.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs launched the second round of aid for 2026 under the Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG), with a budget of 12 million euros intended to promote photovoltaic installations, smart management systems and solutions that strengthen grid stability.
The initiative comes after an initial call for proposals that far exceeded official expectations. Authorities received nearly 29,000 applications totaling €135 million, forcing the government to increase the initial budget from €40 million to €70 million. One statistic was particularly striking: around 90% of the submitted projects included batteries.
Incentives for solar and European technology
In this new round, photovoltaic systems up to 10 kW will be able to access subsidies of 150 euros per kW installed, while projects between 10 kW and 20 kW will receive 140 euros per kW.
Larger-scale facilities will compete through bidding processes, where resources will be allocated according to the financing needs of each project.
On the other hand, independent storage systems will not be eligible in this call, although the Government maintains its strategy of promoting the incorporation of batteries associated with solar projects.
Austria will also continue to implement the "Made in Europe" program, which rewards the use of equipment manufactured within the continent. Projects incorporating European components will be eligible for a 10% increase in the subsidy granted.
Currently, according to official data, 46% of photovoltaic installations already use inverters manufactured in Europe. However, the government plans to go further. Upcoming regulatory changes include making the use of European inverters a mandatory requirement.
What's next on the schedule?
Applications for this second round can be submitted between June 16 and 30, 2026. In addition, the Government has already confirmed a third call for proposals in October, which will have another 8 million euros allocated to solar projects and storage systems.