Bulgaria drives EU battery storage expansion as report calls for clean firm power

Bulgaria has become a leading test case for battery energy storage in South‑East Europe, approving roughly €587 million in subsidies for 82 stand‑alone projects totalling about 9.71 GWh. The program, run under the RESTORE framework, aims to boost grid flexibility and renewable integration. A flagship example is the 150 MW / 600 MWh Nova Zagora system, financed by DSK Bank and linked to a virtual power purchase agreement with Vitol, illustrating how public grants combined with commercial financing can attract sophisticated investors.

A separate European study warns that expanding solar and wind alone will not guarantee reliable, affordable zero‑carbon electricity. The report urges the EU to add clean firm power—next‑generation geothermal, modernised hydropower and nuclear (including small modular reactors)—and long‑duration storage to cover periods of low renewable output, known as “Dunkelflaute”. It stresses that market forces alone are unlikely to deliver the required capacity quickly, calling for policy support to integrate these technologies into Europe’s decarbonisation strategy.