Bulgaria launches 3,000-MWh EU-backed energy storage tender

Bulgaria on Wednesday launched a long-delayed tender for at least 3,000 MWh of new energy storage capacity as part of its efforts to increase the share of renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, in the country’s energy mix.

Interested parties have a November 21 deadline to apply for EU-backed grants of a total of BGN 1.2 billion (USD 683m/EUR 613m), the Bulgarian ministry of energy announced in a press statement on Tuesday.

There is no minimum funding amount for each application, while the cap for a single proposal is set at BGN 148.6 million. The grant funding will cover up to 50% of eligible costs, but no more than BGN 371,608 without VAT per MWh. A single applicant may submit several proposals, but their total funding cannot exceed 1/6 of the total quota for the procedure.

The procedure is called "National infrastructure for storage of electricity from renewable sources" (RESTORE) and is carried out under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). It was launched following a consultation process lasting more than two months.

The future facilities will be connected to the network of Bulgaria’s Electricity System Operator. The selected projects must be completed and commissioned by March 2026.

(BGN 1 = USD 0.569/EUR 0.511)

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