Renalfa IPP's 25 MW/55 MWh battery energy storage system in the city of Razlog, in southwestern Bulgaria. | Image: Renalfa
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy has launched a public consultation on a new subsidy program designed to expand the country’s renewable energy storage capacity by 1.9 GWh. According to the ministry’s announcement, the initiative—called RESTORE 2—follows the strong uptake of the first RESTORE tender, which closed in April. That earlier round awarded funding to 82 projects representing nearly 9.7 GWh of usable capacity, more than tripling the original 3 GWh target. Supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, the program is part of Bulgaria’s broader strategy to scale renewable integration while ensuring sufficient storage infrastructure. Consultation documents are available for comment until September 15, with applications expected to open on September 18.
The draft guidelines specify that projects must deliver at least 10 MW of nominal AC power with a minimum of two hours of usable storage capacity. Funding will cover up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at BGN 156,466 (around $86,000) per MWh. A single applicant may request support for no more than 317 MWh, equal to one-sixth of the total quota. Financial requirements include a 3% participation guarantee and minimum own capital of BGN 6 million for 20–50 MWh facilities or BGN 10 million for projects above that size. Approved applicants must also provide a 10% performance guarantee upon signing their grant agreement.
To qualify, projects must represent “new usable energy storage capacity,” meaning construction cannot have started before June 25, 2024, and facilities must not be commissioned by then. Applicants are required to present a valid grid connection agreement, building permit, signed supply contract, and secured financing. According to the draft rules, all supported projects must be completed and commissioned by July 31, 2026.