European energy storage development company Aukera Energy has made critical progress, successfully securing funding for the second phase of the Gura Ialomitei energy storage project in Romania. IFC, a subsidiary of the World Bank, has invested 48.5 million euros in financing to fill the funding gap for the construction of this 250MW/500MWh energy storage power station. With the full implementation of the two phases of financing, the construction of benchmark energy storage projects in Central and Eastern Europe is steadily advancing, opening up a new path for attracting international capital to independent energy storage in the region.

Fund arrangement landing

According to the signed financing agreement, 48.5 million euros of funds will be divided into two major sectors. 40 million euros will be used for project capital expenditures to support the procurement of phase II equipment, system integration, and on-site construction. The remaining 8.5 million euros will be used as special funds for value-added tax to match the cash flow needs during the project construction phase. The second phase has a capacity of 100MW/200MWh, and the first phase of the project with a capacity of 150MW/300MWh has been connected to the grid in June 2026, with funding from a 60 million euro credit from the Austrian Public Credit Bank. The project has accumulated over 100 million euros in international debt financing.

Clear project progress

The overall plan for the Gura Ialomitei energy storage power station is 250MW/500MWh, and the second phase is scheduled to be put into commercial operation in early 2027. After completion, it will become the largest operational energy storage facility in Romania and rank among the top BESS projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The development entity Aukera is backed by multiple overseas institutions, with business covering five European countries. It has over 810MW of projects under construction and operation, and a reserve development pipeline scale exceeding 14GW.

Highlighting regional value

Romania is continuously expanding its wind and solar installed capacity, and the old power grid is facing peak shaving pressure. This energy storage power station can provide frequency regulation, peak shaving, and valley filling services, expanding the space for new energy consumption. The entry of multilateral financial institutions confirms the financing feasibility of energy storage assets in Eastern Europe, forming a replicable investment and financing model. The project construction will also drive the procurement of energy storage equipment, promote the development of local power grid access, engineering general contracting, and long-term operation and maintenance industries. Keywords: Central and Eastern European energy storage, Romanian battery energy storage

International capital continues to increase its investment in energy storage infrastructure, marking the end of the planning stage for the energy storage industry in Central and Eastern Europe and the full entry into the commercialization cycle of construction and production.Editor/Min Jing