In September in Bucharest, an approval document from the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) gave a new identity to an ordinary plot of land in Buciumi Village, Baku County. On September 22nd, the Bucuimi energy storage project under Norwegian new energy company Scatec officially obtained its establishment permit. For this company, which will only enter the Romanian market in 2023, this is not only a pre construction pass, but also a crucial step in its transition from photovoltaic and wind power to integrated wind, solar and energy storage.

The first energy storage landing

The Buciumi project is located in Buciumi Village, Bacu County. It is an independent battery energy storage system with an installed capacity of 88MW/176MWh, developed, constructed, and operated by Energy Storage Investment SRL, a local subsidiary of Scatec Romania. The system adopts lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology, equipped with 22 inverters with a total installed capacity of about 96.6MW, a 110/20kV substation with a 100MVA transformer, and a 110kV underground transmission line with a total length of about 1.4 kilometers, which is connected to the Gutina ș 400/220/110 kV existing power grid.

After the project is put into operation, it will mainly undertake functions such as frequency and voltage regulation of the power grid, improving the stability of the power grid, and assisting in the consumption of renewable energy in Romania. According to the construction plan, the project will start construction in the third quarter of 2026 and be completed and put into operation in the third quarter of 2027. The overall operating life is expected to be 15 to 20 years. Before starting construction, the development enterprise needs to provide a complete proof of construction funds in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Wind and scenery in two wheels

In addition to energy storage, Scatec is simultaneously advancing its wind and photovoltaic sectors in Romania. The URLESCA onshore wind power project is located in Braila County, with an installed capacity of 77MW and a total investment of approximately 168 million euros (excluding value-added tax). It is Scatec's first foray into the European onshore wind power market. The project adopts a combination of self owned funds and non recourse loans for financing, with a leverage ratio of about 60%, coordinated by Erste Group and Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR) for financing; Scatec holds 100% equity, and the construction is undertaken by OX2 based on the Construction Transfer Agreement (CATA). The operation, maintenance, and asset management are undertaken by Scatec, and it is expected to achieve commercial operation in the second half of 2028. The supporting Contract for Difference (CfD) covers approximately 57% of the estimated power generation.

In terms of photovoltaics, the Dobrun&Sadova photovoltaic cluster has a total installed capacity of 190MW, located in the southern counties of Dorj and Olt. The total investment is about 121 million euros, and the financing leverage ratio is about 70%. It has received joint funding support from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and BCR; Scatec holds 65% of the shares, while its partner Defic Globe holds 35%. The project adopts an EPC general contracting model and is expected to be put into commercial operation in the second half of 2027. The project has signed a 15 year price difference contract, covering approximately 70% of the estimated power generation. The remaining electricity will be sold through the Romanian electricity wholesale market, balancing stability and market flexibility in terms of revenue.

Deeply cultivate the local market

Relying on photovoltaic, wind power, and energy storage projects, Scatec's total installed capacity of new energy in Romania has reached 267MW, and it has simultaneously reserved 176MWh of battery energy storage projects, forming an integrated system for the coordinated development of wind, solar, and energy storage. In September 2026, Scatec officially established its Bucharest office and formed a localized operations team to achieve the full process local implementation of project development, construction, operation and asset management.

Scatec was founded in 2007 and is a renewable energy solution service provider listed in Norway. Equinor, the Norwegian national energy giant, is the main shareholder and focuses on the development and operation of new energy projects in emerging markets. Its business covers five continents and currently has a global installed capacity of 6.6GW of renewable energy under construction and operation, with a battery storage capacity of 2GWh.keywords:New energy information network

The rise of Romania's energy storage market is not accidental. With the withdrawal of coal-fired power and the rapid increase in photovoltaic installed capacity, the demand for flexible regulation resources in the power grid continues to rise. Large scale energy storage is shifting from supplementary options to system essential needs, and independent energy storage has also been included in the bidding scope of price difference contracts for the first time; According to Transelectrica, the national grid company of Romania, the country's newly added grid connected energy storage capacity has reached 663MW in the first eight months of 2026. Since entering Romania in 2023, Scatec has continued to increase local investment, and its wind and solar energy storage layout has not only improved its global map, but also provided strong support for local energy transformation, grid upgrading, and low-carbon development.Editor/Yang Meiling