Stationary battery manufacturer Hithium has signed a strategic partnership with solar project EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) provider Solarpro. Their first project is slated to come up in Bulgaria and is considered to be the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) already in implementation in southeast Europe.
Hithium will be supplying battery products to a 55 MWh energy storage project, for which Solarpro will be providing turnkey EPC services. To be specific, Hithium will supply 16 energy storage containers with a 3.44 MWh capacity, based on the company's 280 Ah cells, which have an extra-long expected lifespan.
The new plant will be supporting a photovoltaic installation in the southwest Bulgarian town of Razlog, and will be equipped with a photovoltaic tracker mounting system. This will enhance the installation's efficiency and output, along with its own substation. The location of the plant is such that it is has some of Bulgaria's highest levels of irradiation, which will provide an exceptional degree of electricity generation. The construction of the plant has been planned for early 2024.
Speaking on the occasion, Solarpro CEO Krasen Mateev, said: "We are very pleased to take this step with Hithium to accelerate the growth of energy storage in eastern Europe. We have been working on preparation, engineering and development on the joint solution over the past months for this landmark project. We are dedicated to lead the energy transition adding new technologies in our product portfolio."
In reply, Hithium Director Large-Scale BESS Project for Central, Northern, and Eastern Europe, Ning (Kelson) Li, said: "We're proud to collaborate with Solarpro, such an experienced European partner in the sector of renewable energy and battery energy storage system, to start with the ground-breaking for Razlog BESS plant. This project represents our entry into eastern Europe and perfectly reflects the contribution we want to make to the region, scaling up energy storage to stabilise the supply of clean energy."
Meanwhile, the BESS owner will be a subsidiary of the Vienna-based Renalfa IPP.