Aukera Energy (renewable energy company) has commissioned the first phase of its Gura battery energy storage system in Ialomita County, Romania, bringing 150 MW of installed capacity online and marking the company's first operational BESS project in the country.

First Phase Delivered Within 12 Months of Ready-to-Build Status

The pan-European battery storage and renewable energy platform, backed by AtlasInvest, Reggeborgh and SFPIM, Belgium's sovereign wealth fund, announced the milestone, describing it as one of the fastest project deliveries in the Romanian market.

The company achieved energisation within 12 months of receiving ready-to-build status for the site. The Gura project has a total planned capacity of 250 MW and 500 MWh.

The first phase represents 150 MW of that total, with a second phase of 100 MW expected to follow. Aukera said phase two is currently progressing through financial close, with construction expected to begin shortly and delivery targeted before the end of 2026.

The project is supported through Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, known as PNRR, and Aukera described it as the largest project financed under that programme to date.

Part of a Broader Romanian Pipeline

Aukera indicated that Gura is the first in a substantially larger Romanian development pipeline. The company said it plans to bring an additional 800 MW into construction over the next six to nine months, positioning itself as a leading developer and operator of battery storage infrastructure in Romania.

The company operates across five European markets and characterised Romania as a core market within its pan-European platform. Aukera cited access to capital and storage expertise as key differentiators in the Romanian market, noting that while many projects in the country remain at early stages of development, the ability to deliver complex infrastructure at pace sets active developers apart.

Romania is currently undergoing a significant period of energy infrastructure investment, driven by the rapid expansion of renewable generation capacity. Aukera said that large-scale flexibility, and battery storage in particular, has become a national priority, supported by the government, the transmission system operator, and an expanding base of international lenders and investors.

Inauguration Event Draws Government and Industry Representatives

To mark the commissioning, Aukera hosted an inauguration event at the Gura BESS site. Attendees included H.E. John Cornet d'Elzius, the Ambassador of Belgium to Romania, Mihai Tanasescu, the Prefect of Ialomita, representatives from Electrogrup, the project's EPC contractor, local government authorities, and equipment manufacturers and partners.

The Ambassador of Belgium to Romania, speaking at the event, described the Gura project as more than an energy infrastructure site, calling it a declaration that Romania and Europe are ready to take their energy future into their own hands.

He said it would set a new benchmark for innovation in energy storage and demonstrate what vision, engineering excellence and cross-border partnership can achieve.

Executives Highlight Coordination and Delivery Discipline

Catalin Breaban, co-founder of Aukera, noted the personal significance of the milestone. As a Romanian, Breaban described it as particularly meaningful to see the company's first operational battery project come to life in his home country.

He said Gura is one of Romania's largest battery storage facilities and characterised it as just the beginning of Aukera's commitment to the Romanian market, citing the company's pipeline, capital and team as the foundations for further delivery.

Radu Enache, Country Manager for Romania at Aukera, said taking Gura from ready-to-build status to energisation in 12 months required strong coordination across the company's internal team, its EPC partner Electrogrup, and local partners.

Enache said the timeline demonstrates what is possible when technical expertise is combined with disciplined project delivery. Electrogrup served as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project.

The commissioning event highlighted the technical and safety standards maintained throughout construction, which Aukera said reflected its commitment to engineering excellence and disciplined execution.

Romania's Flexibility Market Draws International Capital

The commissioning of Gura's first phase comes as Romania positions itself as an increasingly significant destination for battery storage investment within Europe.

The country's renewable energy expansion has created growing demand for grid flexibility services, and large-scale standalone BESS projects have attracted backing from sovereign wealth funds and international lenders. SFPIM, one of Aukera's backers, is Belgium's sovereign wealth fund.

The involvement of Belgian state capital in a Romanian energy infrastructure project was acknowledged at the inauguration by the Belgian Ambassador, who attended the event at the Gura site in Ialomita County.

With 150 MW now operational, a further 100 MW in the final stages of preparation for construction, and an additional 800 MW pipeline targeting construction commencement within six to nine months, Aukera has signalled a significant near-term expansion of its Romanian footprint.

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