Applications & Installations

BBDF 2026: Finance, tolling, and getting the merchant balance right

As Europe prepares to roll out 200 GWh of battery storage over the next five years, discussion at the Battery Business & Development Forum 2026 turns to how financing models are rapidly shifting. Bankers, developers and stakeholders shared key pain points with the audience, as well as practical advice.
Tristan Rayner
By
Tristan Rayner
Image: ESS News

From ESS News

Finance took center stage at BBDF in a lively session covering the range of funding options available to BESS projects.

Mark van Zon, senior director at ABN AMRO, opened the session by introducing a host of financial concepts such as floor contracts, gearing, mini-perm loans, balloon management, and aspects like cash-sweep mechanisms.

Panelists included banks, offtakers, and developers delved into the detail as industry experts shared first-hand accounts of European BESS financing. Mikko Preuss, chief commercial officer at Terralayr represented developers, alongside bankers Marcus Starke, director energy origination at NORD/LB, and Mark van Zon. Nils van Afferden, asset originator, flexibilities and batteries at RWE, was also on stage to share the offtaker perspective.

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