Bulgaria’s Largest Battery Energy Storage System Goes Live
Bulgaria’s largest operating battery energy storage system, developed by Austria’s Renalfa IPP, has commenced operations. The 25 MW/55 MWh facility in Razlog, southwestern Bulgaria, began operations at the start of the month.
Vienna-based Renalfa IPP has connected the 25 MW/55 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) to the transmission network. Located alongside a 33 MW solar plant, the system is now fully operational. Renalfa IPP claims this is the largest BESS in Bulgaria and one of the first of its scale in Eastern Europe.
KER Toki Power, a fully digital Bulgarian electricity trader, manages and optimizes the facility. The system participates in capacity and balancing markets through the trader’s platform, providing automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve (aFRR) and manual Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFRR) services to the grid.
Nick Antonov, a spokesperson for Renalfa IPP, stated that this project marks the beginning of the company’s hybridization of over 1 GW of renewable assets, either in operation or under construction. He added that Renalfa IPP plans to introduce similar solutions to its other wind and solar assets in the region, including projects in Hungary and Romania.