ContourGlobal has commissioned a 202MW/500MWh stand‑alone battery energy storage system into full operation in Stara Zagora, marking one of Eastern Europe’s largest BESS installations and among the first of its kind in Bulgaria.
The project is now active in the country’s day‑ahead and intraday electricity markets, supporting improved system flexibility, reliability and stability.
Situated within the Maritsa East 3 coal plant complex, the installation benefits from existing grid infrastructure, demonstrating how large‑scale storage can be rapidly deployed to meet national energy needs and support Bulgaria’s transition goals. A ribbon‑cutting ceremony marked the commissioning, attended by ContourGlobal CEO Antonio Cammisecra, energy minister Zhecho Stankov, and regional representatives, highlighting the project’s strategic importance.
The ‘ContourGlobal Maritsa BESS’ is funded through the EU’s NextGeneration EU programme under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Built on a 25,000m² site inside the ME3 TPP perimeter, the system complements the plant’s remaining coal units, which continue to provide peak‑demand support.
Cammisecra described the project as “a significant step forward for battery storage development in Bulgaria,” noting its contribution to the company’s 3GWh global BESS portfolio. Minister Stankov added that the commissioning “marks a decisive step in Bulgaria’s energy transformation”.
The facility incorporates 110 BYD battery skids and 28 PCS‑Transformer units, representing BYD’s largest project in Eastern Europe. Delivered from final investment decision to commercial operation in under nine months, the project showcases rapid execution supported by local engineering teams and more than 15 contractors.
ContourGlobal is now advancing a second 202MW BESS on the same site as part of a wider plan to develop an integrated renewable energy hub, including future hybrid solar‑plus‑storage projects.
