Bulgaria’s battery storage surges amid drought
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In Bulgaria, around one hundred battery energy storage system (BESS) sites are now operating, largely built over the past two years, after the country experienced a boom in installations.
Low administrative hurdles, EU funding, and a welcoming attitude toward clean energy helped Bulgaria rapidly expand its battery storage capacity alongside its growing solar power production.
This investment proved beneficial when a record drought lowered water levels in the River Danube, disrupting power generation at nuclear and hydroelectric plants across Eastern Europe. During July and August, Bulgaria exported approximately 830 gigawatt-hours of electricity monthly, more than double its usual amount, with Romania receiving nearly half of those transfers, valued at an estimated €74 million.
The country is repurposing old industrial sites, including former coal-fired plants like Maritsa East 3, to house these battery facilities, shifting away from reliance on coal. Currently, Bulgaria has around 5.7 gigawatts of operational battery-storage power, which represents nearly a quarter of its total installed power-generation capacity and exceeds the operational battery capacity of neighboring Romania fivefold.
While the expansion largely occurred due to a fortunate combination of factors rather than a deliberate strategy, experts believe Bulgaria’s success can serve as a model for other European nations pursuing energy transitions.
