ENGIE expands Romanian battery storage portfolio with 54 MW project in Hunedoara
ENGIE Romania is expanding its battery energy storage portfolio with the acquisition of a pre-construction BESS project in Călan, Hunedoara County, as the company continues to increase its exposure to energy storage alongside its renewable generation assets.
The project will have an installed power capacity of 54 MW and a storage capacity of 216 MWh, allowing electricity to be supplied to the grid for up to four hours at full power. Commercial operation is currently scheduled for January 2029. Following the transaction, ENGIE Romania’s battery storage portfolio will reach approximately 140 MW / 386 MWh.
The company currently has two additional BESS projects under construction. The largest is a 80 MW / 160 MWh system in Șelimbăr, Sibiu County, while a 5 MW / 10 MWh battery is being developed at Băleni, Galați County.
The Băleni project is integrated with ENGIE’s operational 50 MW wind farm and is described by the company as its first hybrid project in Europe combining wind generation and battery storage at the same location. For ENGIE, the Călan acquisition adds a four-hour storage asset to a portfolio that already includes both standalone and renewable-integrated BESS projects.
“Energy storage represents a key stage in the development of the renewable energy sector. While the first wave of investment focused on adding new generation capacity, the next phase is about integrating this capacity efficiently into the energy system and increasing its flexibility,” said Cristian Buzan, Managing Director Renewables & Batteries at ENGIE Romania.
He added that the company intends to develop a diversified storage portfolio as renewable generation continues to expand, with storage becoming an increasingly important part of its investment strategy towards 2030.
The Romanian transaction is part of a broader expansion of ENGIE’s energy flexibility activities across Europe. During July and August, the group announced acquisitions, construction starts and commissioning of new storage projects in Poland, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, the UK and Romania, representing a combined capacity of approximately 1.1 GW / 3.3 GWh.
