Bulgaria has moved from a solar-heavy development model into a storage-led phase, creating one of Southeast Europe’s most active markets for utility-scale batteries.
The country added almost 3 GWh of battery storage during 2025, placing it among Europe’s five largest new markets. The pace has continued in 2026. Solarpro Technology and CATL commissioned a 602 MWh facility in Burgas, marginally exceeding Enery’s 601.8 MWh project at Nova Zagora and becoming the largest operating battery installation in Eastern Europe.
OMV Petrom has taken a final investment decision on the Gabare hybrid project near Byala Slatina. The development combines approximately 415 MWp of solar capacity with a 600 MWh battery, requiring estimated investment of €300 million, including around €100 million for storage. The battery component therefore represents roughly one-third of total project CAPEX and changes the asset from a simple solar generator into a dispatchable trading portfolio.
Other projects demonstrate the market’s increasing depth. GEN-I has acquired three systems at Belovo, Momchilgrad and Parvomay with combined capacity of 30 MW/76 MWh, increasing its Bulgarian portfolio to 42 MW/100 MWh. Energo-Pro commissioned a 10.75 MW/24.31 MWh system at Gorna Oryahovitsa following investment of €4.23 million, while China’s Sermatec brought a 10 MW/31 MWh project into commercial operation.
Storage growth is occurring alongside politically sensitive restructuring. The government plans to separate Maritsa East Mines and Maritsa East 2 thermal power plant from Bulgarian Energy Holding and place them in a new state enterprise. Delays to the restructuring have placed more than €1 billion of Recovery and Resilience Plan and just-transition funding at risk.
Gas and oil security remain equally prominent. Sofia is discussing higher Azerbaijani gas deliveries through SOCAR, while the government has intervened to stabilise crude supplies to the Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery. July’s regulated gas price was set at €37.70/MWh, up 5.84% from June but below comparable international futures.
Bulgaria’s battery build-out gives it a structural advantage in balancing solar output and trading regional volatility. The next constraint is likely to move from storage capacity to grid availability, connection queues and the ability of market revenues to support batteries once early subsidies and unusually wide intraday spreads begin to normalise.
