site.btaEnergy Minister: Application under Procedure for Renewable Energy Storage Facilities Expected to Start August 16

The application measure for the procedure "National Renewable Electricity Storage Infrastructure" (RESTORE) in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRРP) is scheduled to be announced on August 16, with a deadline of 90 days, i.e. by November 16, caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said on Wednesday during a hearing at the Parliamentary Committee on Energy. According to him, the goal is for contracts to be signed in January 2025. 

Malinov said that on June 25 his ministry put up for public consultation the conditions for applying and implementing investments under the procedure. At the same time, a preliminary notification was submitted to the European Commission on the eligibility of the State aid. The aim is that by the deadline for potential bidders to submit their proposals, this State aid will already be eligible. An analysis of the proposals that have been received is currently being carried out, the minister said.

He pointed out that the financial assistance to be provided under the programme is EUR 590 million. The investment will support the construction and commissioning of a national infrastructure of renewable electricity storage facilities with at least 3,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of usable energy capacity at grid level. The maximum grant intensity for each applicant shall be up to 50 % of the eligible costs, but not more than BGN 371,607.70 (excluding VAT) per MWh of usable energy capacity.

The storage facilities will be distributed throughout Bulgaria and connected to the electricity grid of the Electricity System Operator.