Bulgaria inaugurated what it says is the largest operational battery energy storage facility in the European Union on May 22, in a move officials say will enhance grid stability and accelerate the country’s energy transition.

The new installation, located in the northern city of Lovech, consists of 111 battery containers and has a total capacity of nearly 500 megawatt-hours (MWh), Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said at the launch event, according to a ministry statement.

“The facility... will help Bulgaria's energy system remain the most stable in the region,” Stankov told reporters. “We are the pillar in the Balkans and in Southeast Europe that balances the electricity systems, and we have proven this with actions.”

The storage plant, which Stankov described as a “first step” towards Bulgaria's ambition of reaching 10,000 MWh of operating battery capacity, is designed to support grid stability and ensure price predictability for consumers.

“These kinds of facilities guarantee system security and price stability for households and businesses, providing affordable energy,” he said.

Stankov said that the realisation of the Lovech project was enabled by legal reforms passed five years ago, allowing the creation of licensed closed electricity distribution systems.

“When the state and business look in the same direction, the result is stable projects for the benefit of the Bulgarian energy sector,” he said. “Our task is to reduce the administrative burden and thus give business a chance to create new jobs and new investments.”

The Lovech facility surpasses what was previously Europe’s largest site, Zenobē site in Blackhillock, Scotland, which began operations in March with an initial phase of 200MW/400MWh, and is expected to expand to 300MW/600MWh by 2026. 

Another 600MW project is in the pipeline: Dutch firm Giga Storage announced plans last year for a 600MW/2,400MWh battery park in Belgium.