Hidroelectrica leading the next wave of BESS investments in Romania.

Electricity producers in Romania are progressing with plans for several gigawatts of battery storage, either in conjunction with existing power plants, as part of hybrid power plants, or as independent facilities. The state-owned hydropower company Hidroelectrica is preparing to launch a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) alongside its only wind farm. At the same time, it is finalizing a tender for 200 MW at its Iron Gate 2 hydropower plant and developing projects that will add hundreds of megawatts of battery capacity across multiple hydroelectric units.

Romania is rapidly advancing in the battery energy storage sector, closely following Bulgaria, a leader in this area within Europe. The rapid expansion in solar energy is effectively spilling over into the battery segment, driven by significant price variations throughout the day, including instances of negative pricing. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) recently reported that Romania had 6.24 GW of photovoltaic capacity at the end of last year, which is just below its hydropower capacity.

Government subsidies, local manufacturing, and the increasing affordability of equipment are fueling the growth in BESS projects. Additionally, energy prosumers play a significant role in bolstering energy storage initiatives in Romania.

Electricity producers are gearing up to deploy several gigawatts of BESS, either by integrating them with current power plants, incorporating them into hybrid setups, or establishing them as standalone systems.

Hidroelectrica is advancing projects totaling 3.1 GWh. In the coming months, it plans to commission a 72 MWh battery system (36 MW for two hours) that will be integrated with its sole wind park, Crucea Nord.

Additionally, Hidroelectrica has solicited bids for a BESS with 64 MW operating power and a capacity of 256 MWh. This system will be located at its Iron Gate 2 - Porțile de Fier 2 hydropower plant on the Danube and will serve to balance the grid.

The company has allocated EUR 60.7 million, excluding VAT, for the battery storage initiative at Iron Gate 2. Following several delays, nine bids were submitted, and Hidroelectrica plans to finalize a contract by the end of the month, estimated at RON 310 million (EUR 60.7 million) excluding VAT. Iron Gate 2 has a nominal capacity of 252 MW.

Alongside this, Hidroelectrica is designing battery facilities amounting to 200 MW and 800 MWh for the lower Olt River area. This hydropower cascade includes run-of-river plants such as Ipotești, Drăgănești, Frunzaru, Rusănești, and Izbiceni. Furthermore, Hidroelectrica aims to install a total of 2 GWh at Subcetate, Bretea, Retezat, and Ruieni, which are hydropower plants located in western Romania.

Güriş, a Turkish company, has completed a 98.6 MW battery energy storage system in Iaz, Obreja commune, western Romania, with a total capacity of 196.4 MWh. The project received a EUR 10.7 million grant from the Ministry of Energy a year and a half ago. The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor was Simtel Team, for Energy Capital Group, which is owned by Mogan Bucharest, part of Güriş Group. The project's total value was RON 168.9 million (EUR 33.1 million) excluding VAT.

The expansion of the Părău photovoltaic park, featuring battery storage, is also underway. Recently, the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) granted an establishment authorization to Heliolux, a special purpose vehicle controlled by Israel-based Econergy. This battery system will complement the Părău photovoltaic park, which has a peak capacity of 92 MW. The permit has been issued for a nominal 76.8 MW, with 65.7 MW designated as usable capacity.

Austrian renewable energy firm Kraftfeld Energy, which has a 1 GW pipeline in Romania, has partnered with an investor for a hybrid power plant project. Alfi Green Fund from Slovenia has acquired a 65% stake in PVP Cygnus, which is tasked with developing a 126 MW solar power plant paired with a 200 MWh BESS. This site is located at the border with Serbia and Bulgaria in Gârla Mare commune, Mehedinți county.