The Agency for Rural Investment Financing (AFIR) has launched the applicant's guide for supporting investments in renewable energy for self-consumption by agricultural and food industry enterprises for public consultation, with a view to opening a new session for submitting funding applications.
„We are preparing a new call for applications for funding through the energy scheme for farmers and agri-food industry processors, with a total increased budget of 200 million euros. Specifically, we are talking about 100%% non-reimbursable funding for investments in green energy production capacities for the self-consumption of agricultural holdings and processing units,” said Adrian Chesnoiu, CEO of AFIR, quoted in a statement.
He added that in 2026, support will be directed exclusively towards solar energy production.
„For this year's session, we have decided that support will go exclusively to solar energy production so that we can meet the very high demand for this component. In the sessions held so far, we have received funding requests totaling over 500 million euros, of which, within the available funds and following the selection procedure, we have contracted over 228 million euros for the financing of 1,100 investments. The absorption capacity of Romanian farmers, but especially their need for financing, are very high, and to ensure our medium and long-term development of the agri-food sector, it is vital to continue financing investments in agriculture with consistent amounts,” Chesnoiu also said.
The financial allocation established for the funding application submission session is 200 million euros, divided equally between the component for installed capacities of 1 MW or less and those greater than 1 MW.
For the 2026 session, the state aid granted under the scheme will be 100% non-refundable for solar energy production, up to €650,000/MW for installed capacities of 1 MW or less, and €550,000/MW for installed capacities greater than 1 MW. Within the energy scheme, applicants can submit multiple projects, provided the investments target different production sites, within the limit of €20 million per beneficiary.
Eligible beneficiaries under the energy scheme are businesses in the agricultural or food industry sector, legally constituted and registered with the National Trade Register Office, as well as land improvement organizations. Through this support scheme, projects aiming to establish new electricity production capacities for self-consumption (below or above 1 MW) from solar sources, with or without storage, receive funding.
The funding source is the Aid Scheme for Supporting Investments in New Renewable Energy Production Capacities for Self-Consumption by Enterprises in the Agricultural and Food Industry Sectors.
The funds allocated through this Aid Scheme are made available through the Modernisation Fund, managed by the Ministry of Energy, and the administrator of the Aid Scheme is the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the Agency for Rural Investment Financing.
