Battery storage subsidies for businesses: what's still available in 2026?
The subsidy landscape for battery storage has changed significantly over the past few years. Businesses investing in a BESS today have fewer options than a few years ago — but the support measures that remain are substantial. This overview gives you an honest and up-to-date picture of what is effectively available in 2026, for which type of business, and how to make the most of each instrument.
⚠️ Important disclaimer The measures described in this article apply exclusively to businesses with an operating establishment in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Companies based in the Walloon Region or the Brussels-Capital Region are subject to a different regulatory framework. Please consult your tax advisor or the relevant regional agency to find out which support measures apply in your region.
Enhanced Investment Deduction: the foundation for every investment
The enhanced thematic investment deduction (VIA) is for most businesses the first and most accessible step. It is not a direct grant, but a tax advantage: an additional percentage of the investment value may be deducted from taxable profit, resulting in a lower tax bill.
The applicable percentages depend on the year of investment and the size of the company. For investments made in 2025, the deduction is 40% for SMEs and self-employed persons, and 30% for large enterprises. For investments made in 2026, the deduction is 40% for all companies, large and small. Battery storage systems fall under category 8 of the investment list "Temporary storage of electrical and thermal energy".
To apply the deduction, you must attach a certificate issued by VEKA (the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency) to your tax return. For investments made in 2025, the application deadline has been extended until the end of 2026. The certificate can be requested via vlaanderen.be/verhoogde-investeringsaftrek.
Key conditions to bear in mind: a prior energy study or audit is mandatory for all businesses, the investment must have a payback period of at least three years, and for large enterprises, investments with an internal rate of return above 13% are excluded. The minimum investment amount is € 1,000. This measure cannot be combined with the Strategic Ecological Support (STRES).
GREEN subsidy: direct support for company-specific investments
Where the investment deduction is a fiscal measure, the GREEN subsidy from VLAIO offers a direct financial contribution. This measure supports company-specific investments in greening and electrification — and battery storage for the maximum use of self-produced green electricity is explicitly eligible, provided the battery capacity does not exceed five times the company's average daily consumption.
The support amounts to 20% to 55% of the accepted ecological additional cost compared to a standard investment, depending on the size of the company and the environmental cost-effectiveness of the technology. The minimum project cost is € 50,000, and the total GREEN support per company is capped at € 1 million over the entire support period. The call has been extended and remains open in 2026.
One crucial point: the GREEN subsidy cannot be combined with any other public support for the same investment. This includes the Enhanced Investment Deduction, the Ecoboostlening and other subsidies from VLAIO or VEKA. You therefore choose one instrument per project. Always request a preliminary meeting via green@vlaio.be before submitting an application.
Strategic Ecological Support (STRES): for large-scale innovative projects
Strategic Ecological Support is intended for a specific segment: large, company-specific projects with a pronounced innovative character. The minimum threshold is high — accepted investments must amount to at least € 1.5 million — and the maximum support is capped at € 500,000 per three-year period.
The support percentage ranges from 20% to 55% and is calculated on the ecological additional cost of the essential components. The measure is open to SMEs and large enterprises, but not to non-profit organisations. VLAIO strongly recommends requesting a preliminary meeting via stres@vlaio.be before submitting a full application. Combining with the Enhanced Investment Deduction is not possible.
Ecoboostlening: affordable financing for SMEs
SMEs and self-employed persons who prefer to spread their investment over time can apply for the Ecoboostlening from PMV. This is a subordinated loan of € 15,000 to € 150,000, with an interest rate of 3% and a term of 3 to 10 years. Battery systems for the storage of renewable energy are explicitly eligible.
A key condition is that you must be able to demonstrate at least 18 months of professional activity as a self-employed person or SME in your main occupation. The loan cannot be combined with the GREEN subsidy or STRES. Combining it with the Enhanced Investment Deduction is however possible, making the Ecoboostlening an interesting financing tool alongside a tax benefit.
Capacity Remuneration Mechanism: making your battery earn on the grid
The CRM is not a subsidy in the classical sense, but a revenue model. Through annual auctions, the federal government awards support to companies that can provide or save capacity on the electricity grid. Battery storage systems are explicitly eligible, as are all other technologies for production, storage or demand management.
Auction winners receive support but are also required to be available when the grid demands it. In periods of high energy prices, an obligation to repay the support received applies — the mechanism is specifically designed to avoid excess profits. For companies with significant battery capacity, participation in the CRM is worth exploring as a complementary revenue stream alongside the operational benefits of the installation.
VLIF: specific to agricultural and horticultural businesses
Agricultural and horticultural businesses can apply to the Flemish Agricultural Investment Fund for the purchase of a battery storage system. Key conditions: the battery must be used exclusively for storing self-produced green energy, storage capacity is limited based on own consumption and production, and only one battery per business is eligible within the 2023–2027 period. Support is capped at a 100 kWh system, although the battery may be larger provided all conditions are met.
Ecologiepremie+: no longer available for battery storage
Until the end of 2025, businesses could apply for support via the Ecologiepremie+ for stationary battery storage systems. Since 1 January 2026, the limited list of eligible technologies has been reduced and battery storage is no longer included. New applications are therefore no longer eligible. Applications submitted before 1 January 2026 are still being processed under the old rules. For new projects, the GREEN subsidy and the Enhanced Investment Deduction are the most appropriate alternatives.
Which instrument suits your situation?
There is no universal answer — the right choice depends on the scale of your investment, the size of your company and whether you prefer a direct subsidy or a tax advantage.
For most SMEs with an investment between € 50,000 and € 1.5 million, the practical choice is between GREEN and the VIA. Both are substantial, but they cannot be combined for the same investment. Those who opt for the VIA can combine it with the Ecoboostlening for affordable financing of the investment amount. For large-scale and innovative projects above € 1.5 million, STRES is the appropriate route, separate from the VIA.
Overview:
VIA + Ecoboostlening: combinable ✅
VIA + GREEN: not combinable ❌
VIA + STRES: not combinable ❌
GREEN + Ecoboostlening: not combinable ❌
GREEN + STRES: not combinable ❌
CRM: independent of all other measures, always combinable ✅
VLIF (agricultural sector) + VIA: verify case by case with VLAIO and the Department of Agriculture
All information in this article is based on legislation in force in June 2026. Support measures are subject to change — always consult the most recent version at vlaio.be or contact Powerland for up-to-date personalised advice.
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