Premier Energy building one of largest battery systems in Southeastern Europe

Premier Energy Group has begun the construction of a 200 MW / 400 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in eastern Romania. It is set to become one of the largest standalone facilities in the country and Southeastern Europe.

Just weeks after agreeing to purchase Evryo Group, including power distribution system operator Distribuție Energie Oltenia, Premier Energy Group published another major update for Romania. It started the works on a two-hour BESS of 200 MW, which translates to 400 MWh in storage capacity.

Romania is gradually catching up with neighboring Bulgaria in Europe’s top league of battery storage markets. Several countries in the region have large solar power fleets and wide spreads between the highest and lowest daily prices on electricity exchanges. It makes a substantial business case for arbitrage, especially with the increasing occurrence and depth of negative prices.

Total costs are EUR 75 million

Premier Energy bought the ready-to-build project in November for EUR 7 million. The site for the standalone battery energy storage system is near Iași, Romania’s third-largest city.

The site for the standalone battery energy storage system is near Iași, Romania’s third-largest city

The electricity producer, distributor and supplier and natural gas distributor and supplier is also active in Moldova and Hungary. It is listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. The company is indirectly controlled by Czech businessman Jiří Šmejc, Romanian media noted.

The BESS under construction in eastern Romania would be one of the largest in the country and Southeastern Europe. Premier Energy estimated the development and construction costs at EUR 75 million. The battery system will contribute to the stability, flexibility and resilience of the energy system, the announcement reads.

ČSOB bank approves green financing for Iași BESS, renewable energy projects

Premier Energy added that it secured up to EUR 100 million in green financing from Československá obchodní banka (ČSOB), headquartered in the Czech Republic. The proceeds will support the construction of the BESS and other renewable energy projects including wind and solar power, the company revealed. Separately it said its electricity production from own assets grew 97% last year.

The company signed an agreement last month to acquire Evryo Group from funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management. The EUR 700 million transaction, which is pending shareholder and regulatory clearance, would bring Distribuție Energie Oltenia under Premier Energy Group.

Financial close is anticipated in the second half of 2026, according to the companies. Distribuție Energie Oltenia is the electricity distribution system operator for the southwestern Romanian region of Oltenia.