Romanian hydropower operator Hidroelectrica is preparing an expansion of floating solar generation on the Lower Olt River, together with large-scale battery storage systems. The plan is set out in tender documentation published on Romania’s electronic procurement platform.
Floating solar capacity across five hydropower reservoirs
The tender materials indicate the installation of approximately 90 MW of new floating solar capacity across reservoirs linked to five hydropower plants. The sites named are Ipotesti, Draganesti, Frunzaru, Rusanesti, and Izbiceni.
Most locations are expected to host floating solar installations of around 20 MW each. The Ipotesti reservoir is planned to receive an additional 10 MW. This would supplement an existing 10 MW floating solar project already under construction at the same site.
BESS deployment and storage sizing for each location
Alongside the floating solar buildout, Hidroelectrica plans to deploy battery energy storage systems at each of the listed locations. Each site is expected to include a 40 MW storage unit with a duration of four hours.
Taken together, the battery portfolio would total 200 MW / 800 MWh. The tender documentation describes the storage as paired with the solar installations at the same hydropower-linked areas.
Hybrid layout using reservoir-based solar and downstream land batteries
The concept described in the tender involves placing floating solar panels directly on reservoir surfaces. Battery systems would be constructed on adjacent land areas downstream of the hydropower dams.
The tender also allows for hybrid configurations combining floating and land-based renewable assets near existing hydroelectric infrastructure. Once completed, the projects are intended to expand Hidroelectrica’s hybrid renewable energy portfolio by integrating hydropower, floating solar generation, and large-scale storage within a unified energy system.
