Bulgaria launches 3 GWh standalone energy storage tender

Bulgaria has launched the long-awaited tender for standalone energy storage systems in a bid to significantly increase the share of solar and wind in its electricity mix. The deadline for applications in November 21.

The procurement procedure, named RESTORE, will offer nearly BGN 1.2 billion ($656 million) for the construction and commissioning of renewable energy storage facilities with a minimum usable energy capacity of 3,000 MWh, the ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

The grants shall cover up to 50% of the eligible costs, but not exceed BGN 371,607.70 (without VAT) for 1 MWh of usable energy capacity, the rules of the procedure stipulate. 

The public call is for projects equal to or greater than 10 MW with at least two hours of storage capacity, which will be primarily used in the frequency regulation markets. There is no minimum amount of financing per proposal, while the maximum one per proposal stands at BGN 148,643,080.

A single applicant can submit several proposals, but their total funding cannot exceed 1/6 of the total quota.

The projects must be completed and put into operation by March 2026. In May 2025, the degree of maturity of the projects and their implementation will be checked. 

The tender is funded under Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which aims to significantly increase the share of energy from renewable sources in the nation’s energy mix, while simultaneously building the necessary infrastructure for its storage. The procurement exercise was launched following a consultation process initiated in late June.

“The investments that will be realized within the framework of RESTORE will guarantee the security and stability of the Bulgarian electricity system”, said Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov. According to him, the program will contribute to the balancing and management of networks, which is necessary for the integration of electricity produced from renewable energy sources.