ESS Scandinavia has made detailed cost calculations as to how much it will cost to build ESS in Lund. In line with 2007/2008 prices, the combined cost of construction is estimated to be 1.47 billion euros, i.e. 14-15 billion Swedish kronor.

When the facility is put into operation, the yearly operational costs will amount to approximately 900 million Swedish kronor or 100 million euros. In addition to this, there are funds of approximately 170 million euros (1.5-1.6 billion Swedish kronor) for future dismantling.

The costs are shared between the different countries in proportion to GNP. It is customary that the host country pays a higher proportion, a so-called site premium, since being host brings with it large economic benefits. The Swedish government has promised to stand for 30% of the cost of construction and 10% of the operational cost, which corresponds to 3-4 billion Swedish kronor for the construction and 90 million Swedish kronor per year. In order to benefit from the specific scientific competencies that exist in several of the participating countries, part of the subsidies will be in the form of components and material for the facility.

The total cost of the construction need not burden the cooperating countries’ national budgets in direct conjunction with the construction. Both the European Investment Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank are able to lend funds for research projects. A so-called Public-Private Partnership, a mixture of public and private funding, can also be a possibility at a later stage in the planning.