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, covering new floating solar capacity and associated storage.
Floating solar capacity across five hydropower reservoirs
The tender documents indicate an installation of approximately 90 MW of new floating solar capacity across reservoirs linked to five hydropower plants. The sites named in the documentation are Ipotesti, Draganesti, Frunzaru, Rusanesti, and Izbiceni.
Most of the locations are expected to host floating solar installations of around 20 MW each. The Ipotesti site is planned to receive an additional 10 MW, complementing a separate floating solar project of 10 MW that is already under construction at the same reservoir.
BESS deployment planned alongside each solar site
Alongside the floating solar expansion, Hidroelectrica plans to deploy battery energy storage systems at each location. Each site is expected to include a 40 MW storage unit with a duration of four hours.
Taken together, the portfolio is described as delivering a combined storage capacity of 200 MW / 800 MWh. The tender documentation links the battery build-out to the same set of reservoir-associated project locations.
Project layout: floating panels and downstream battery sites
The concept described in the tender involves installing 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 that combine both floating and land-based renewable assets near existing hydroelectric infrastructure.
Hybrid renewable integration with hydropower and storage
Upon completion, the projects are intended to expand Hidroelectrica’s hybrid renewable energy portfolio by combining hydropower generation, floating solar output, and large-scale storage within a unified energy system.
