Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry has awarded 9.7 GWh in its energy storage tender
82 winning projects to receive BGN 1.15 billion in state support through NPVU
Conducted under the RESTORE program, it will aid renewable energy sources like wind and solar
Bulgaria's Ministry of Energy has awarded a total of 9,712.89 MWh under its 2024 standalone energy storage tender, representing 3 times the original target of 3,000 MWh.
The tender was launched last year, aiming to significantly increase the share of renewable energy, mainly wind and solar, in the country’s energy mix. It would also contribute to Bulgaria’s energy security, stated the ministry.
A total of 151 investment proposals were submitted under the National Infrastructure for Storage of Electricity from Renewable Sources (RESTORE) program in response to the call, worth almost BGN 5 billion ($2.9 billion). Of these, the ministry picked 82 winning projects worth over BGN 1.15 billion ($675 million) to be financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPVU).
All of the winning projects will be spread across the country and connected to the local electricity transmission network of ESO EAD or to an electricity distribution network. Winning facilities will need to be commissioned by March 2026.
“The implementation of the RESTORE procedure will guarantee a high degree of grid balancing, which is a necessary condition for the successful integration of electricity produced from renewable energy sources,” stated the Energy Ministry.
In November 2024, Bulgaria concluded its maiden renewable energy auction with over 3 GW of generation and 1.176 GW of energy storage capacity, with funding available under the NPVU (see Over 3 GW New Capacity Wins In Bulgaria’s Maiden Renewable Energy Auction).
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bulgaria is the ‘most emissions-intensive country’ in Europe as its GHG emissions intensity of GDP is almost double the European Union average. The country aims to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2038 and add close to 3 GW of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030.
As of the end of 2024, Bulgaria’s total installed solar PV capacity reached 3.91 GW, representing a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 1 GW.