“Bulgaria launches Second Tender for EU-funded 1,900 MWh Standalone Battery Storage Facilities (RESTORE 2)”
(Article drafted by Daniela Dzabarova, Senior Associate, and Desislava Dimitrova, Senior Associate, for Lexology on September 30, 2025)
Introduction
On 19 September 2025, the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy announced the commencement of the second tender under the National Infrastructure for Storage of Electricity from Renewable Sources – RESTORE 2 program (the “Procedure”). The Procedure is designed to provide financial support for the construction and commissioning of a standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), financed under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Under the first RESTORE procedure, 82 projects were approved, with total funding of BGN 1.149 billion.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
The Procedure is conducted in accordance with the state aid scheme approved by European Commission Decision SA.114306 (2024/N): State Aid Scheme for Supporting the Development of Standalone Energy Storage Facilities. It also aligns with Section 2.5.1, Point 77, Letter a), Subpoint (ii) of the European Commission Communication on the Temporary Framework for State Aid Measures to Support the Economy in the Context of the Crisis and Transition Related to the Aggression of Russia Against Ukraine (2023/C 101/03) and its subsequent amendments.
Procedure Objectives
The Procedure aims to provide funding for the construction and commissioning of at least 1,900 MWh of standalone Battery Energy Storage capacity. The storage facilities will be distributed across Bulgaria and connected either to the transmission network operated by TSO EAD or to the distribution network, provided that they maintain a direct optical connection to TSO EAD’s SCADA/EMS telecommunication system.
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