Construction works start on Bulgaria’s first hybrid power plant

The Tenevo hybrid power plant, the first in Bulgaria, will consist of a solar and wind power plant and a battery storage system. Eurowind Energy and Renalfa IPP marked the start of the construction of the photovoltaic segment, planned at 238 MW in peak capacity.

Tenevo Solar, expected to be completed in early 2025, is the first stage of the Tenevo hybrid renewable energy complex – the first in Bulgaria. At 238 MW in peak capacity, it is set to become the largest photovoltaic system in the country.

Denmark-based Eurowind Energy and Renalfa IPP, headquartered in Vienna, marked the start of construction of the solar power segment at the site of an old military airport near the village of Tenevo. They are implementing the project in Yambol province in Bulgaria’s southeast through their joint venture EURA IPP.

Wind, energy storage capacities to match solar power segment

The complex is envisaged to include a wind park of more than 250 MW. An energy storage system of 250 MW in operating power and 500 MWh in capacity is planned as well. It means the batteries will be able to supply electricity for two hours at maximum.

Solarpro Holding, part of Renalfa Solarpro Group, is the contractor. In late 2021, Eurowind Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Jens Rasmussen valued the solar power segment at EUR 100 to EUR 150 million.

Eurowind, Renalfa already have grid connection permit for battery unit

The companies have already secured a grid connection for the battery storage subproject, which is rare in Bulgaria. The hybrid power plant is planned to be connected to a 400 kV transmission line. The Municipality of Tundzha issued the building permit for the solar power plant a month ago, Capital.bg wrote. It consists of two sites, set to host units with 221.26 MW and 16.32 MW in peak capacity.

Eurowind Energy was founded in 2006. It designs, builds and operates energy capacities in 15 European countries and the United States. The company said it has built more than 2.5 GW in Europe so far.

Renalfa IPP is a joint venture of Renalfa Solarpro Group and French infrastructure fund manager RGreen Invest. The company owns renewable energy facilities of over 450 MW in total in Bulgaria, Hungary, North Macedonia and Romania. In addition, more than 1 GW is in an advanced stage of development and construction, Renalfa said.