Bulgaria is a European leader in electricity storage, due to the expansion of solar energy and EU investments.

Bulgaria is establishing itself as a European leader in electricity storage, due to the rapid expansion of solar energy and substantial investments from the European Union.

Currently, the country stores a larger share of its electricity production than any other EU member state, while its neighbors are becoming increasingly dependent on imported electricity. This development has occurred in the context of political instability, with eight rounds of elections between 2021 and 2026, but also with rapid progress in modernizing the electrical system, including through energy storage in batteries.

The Minister of Energy, Zhecho Stankov, inaugurated a 124 MW storage unit, and the installed capacity has increased from 200 MWh to 4,800 MW in just two years. Storage projects are supported by government and private funds, and Bulgaria has become a net exporter of electricity. However, the rapid expansion of energy storage comes with risks, including congestion of electrical interconnections and dependence on subsidies.