Entering the Bulgarian ancillary services market

Following our successful takeover of the commercial management of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Bulgaria, one of Europe’s fastest-growing energy storage markets, GEN-I Group has reached another important milestone. In September, we began participating in the balancing market operated by Bulgaria’s transmission system operator ESO, where we submitted and successfully delivered our first mFRR (Manual Frequency Restoration Reserve) energy activations.

This marks an important step in the expansion of our flexibility services portfolio and confirms our ability to successfully deploy advanced energy asset optimization solutions in new European markets. These activations were delivered using our 200 MW battery energy storage portfolio in Bulgaria, consisting of the Brusartsi and Byala Slatina projects.

The multi-dimensional value of ancillary services

By participating in the ancillary services market, battery energy storage systems not only create additional value for asset owners but also play a vital role in maintaining power system stability. The rapid response capabilities of battery systems enable efficient balancing of supply and demand within the electricity grid, a function that is becoming increasingly important as the integration of renewable energy sources accelerates.

Strong foundations for future growth

Our successful launch on the ESO balancing market is a natural continuation of the activities GEN-I has undertaken in recent months in the fields of flexibility and energy storage. Following the acquisition of the commercial management of Bulgaria’s largest battery storage projects and the signing of agreements for additional projects, we have established a strong foundation for a long-term presence in the Bulgarian market.

This achievement is the result of outstanding collaboration among our trading, analytics, flexibility development, information systems, operations, and risk management teams. Through their expertise and dedication, our specialists successfully integrated our solutions into the Bulgarian market environment and enabled the delivery of the first activations within days of market entry.

With the continued growth of our battery storage portfolio and expansion into new European markets, GEN-I is strengthening its position as one of the leading providers of flexibility services, battery storage optimization, and advanced energy solutions in Central and Southeastern Europe.