The European Commission has opened the Battery Booster Facility. Through this new facility, which is financed by the Innovation Fund, up to € 1.5 billion is available for manufacturers scaling up battery cell production in Europe. Support takes the form of an interest-free loan of up to € 500 million per project. Applications can be submitted until 30 September 2026.

What is the Battery Booster Facility?

The Battery Booster Facility is a new financing instrument under the Innovation Fund. The European Commission formally established the facility on 9 June 2026. It forms part of the broader Battery Booster Strategy, which the Commission presented in December 2025 to strengthen the European battery sector.

The Innovation Fund finances the Battery Booster Facility with revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Unlike regular Innovation Fund calls, selected projects do not receive a grant, but an interest-free loan. This allows the European Commission to support battery manufacturers during the capital-intensive phase in which they need to scale up production to full commercial capacity.

The Battery Booster Facility therefore focuses specifically on the critical scale-up phase between pre-series production and full commercial production. Through the facility, the European Commission aims to attract investment, accelerate the deployment of new production capacity and strengthen the European battery value chain.

Which projects are eligible for the Battery Booster Facility?

The call targets projects focusing on battery cell production in the European Economic Area (EEA). To be eligible for financing, a project must meet several key requirements. The project must:

• produce battery cells suitable for use in electric vehicles;
• already be in the scale-up phase when the call opens;
• be the applicant’s first project worldwide for the full-scale commercial production of battery cells for electric vehicles;
• have a planned annual production capacity of at least 10 GWh.

According to the European Commission, the scale-up phase runs from the production of so-called pre-series C-Samples through to achieving full commercial production.

How much financing can you receive?

A total of € 1.5 billion is available through the Battery Booster Facility. A project can receive an interest-free loan covering up to 60% of eligible costs, with a maximum of € 500 million per project.

The use of loans rather than regular grants is intended to ensure that public funding complements private investment and helps projects progress more quickly towards commercial viability. In particular, the European Commission aims to address a financing gap that can arise when a new production facility is technically ready but has not yet reached full production capacity.

How will your application be assessed?

The European Commission will assess applications based on the criteria set out in the call. These include the technical and financial maturity of the project and its added value to the European battery ecosystem.

An application therefore requires a solid justification of both the production project and its financial viability. Applicants must submit documents including an application form, business plan and detailed financial model. The application process starts with an EU Survey. Applicants will then receive access to EU Send Web to securely submit their full application to the Commission.

Need support with your Battery Booster Facility application?

The Battery Booster Facility opened on 28 July 2026 and closes on 30 September 2026. This means that the timeframe for preparing and submitting your application is relatively short. Organisations that meet the eligibility requirements should therefore assess promptly whether their project fits the call and whether the necessary technical and financial documentation can be prepared in time.

Our specialists can support you in assessing the requirements and preparing an application for the Battery Booster Facility. Would you like more information? Contact us at info@hezelburcht.com, call 088 495 20 00 or fill in our contact form to discuss your project.

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