PVTIME – Scatec has received regulatory approval from Romania’s National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) to proceed with the 88MW/176MWh Buciumi battery storage facility. This marks the first standalone storage asset for the Norwegian developer in the country. The project is being developed through Scatec’s local subsidiary, Energy Storage Investment SRL, and will utilise lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology and 22 power conversion units totalling approximately 96.6MW. These will be connected to the existing Gutinaş 400/220/110kV grid via a 110/20kV substation and 1.4km of underground cabling.
The facility is designed to provide frequency and voltage regulation, as well as grid stability services. Construction is scheduled to begin in Q3 2026, with the target for commercial operation being Q3 2027. However, this is subject to the submission of evidence of full construction funding prior to breaking ground.
This approval further strengthens Scatec’s growing presence in Romania, a market it entered in 2023. The company now holds 267MW of renewable capacity and 176MWh of storage in its Romanian pipeline. Its Romanian portfolio includes the 77 MW Urleasca onshore wind project in Brăila County. This project is estimated to cost €168 million, and has been financed through 60% non-recourse project debt arranged by Erste Group and BCR. Scatec retains 100% equity, and OX2 is delivering construction under a transfer agreement. Commercial operation is anticipated in the second half of 2028, with a contract for difference covering approximately 57% of the project’s forecasted energy output.
In terms of solar power, the Dobrun and Sadova cluster, located in Dolj and Olt counties, represents an investment of €121 million, leveraging roughly 70% of the total cost. This project is backed by joint financing from the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and BCR. Scatec holds a 65% stake, while Defic Globe holds the remaining 35%. The project is proceeding on an EPC basis, with commercial service expected in the second half of 2027 under a 15-year CfD covering around 70% of output.
Romania’s energy sector is undergoing a rapid transformation, with coal retirements accelerating and solar deployment gathering pace. This is driving demand for grid flexibility. Large-scale storage has become a system necessity, supported by the inclusion of independent storage in the national CfD auction framework. According to Transelectrica, 663MW of new storage was connected in the first eight months of 2026 alone. In order to support this growth, Scatec opened an office in Bucharest in September 2026 and recruited a local team to oversee the entire project lifecycle.
 to proceed with the 88MW/176MWh Buciumi battery storage facility. This marks the first standalone storage asset…){kind=link}