Greek renewable energy company MORE, a subsidiary of Motor Oil Hellas, has started trial operations at the Stâlpu 2 hybrid solar and battery storage plant in Romania's Buzău County, marking the company's first renewable energy project outside Greece. The project is also MORE's first hybrid power plant, combining solar generation with battery energy storage.
Stâlpu 2 includes a 63 MW solar power plant paired with a 10 MW / 21 MWh battery energy storage system. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to supply around 76 GWh of electricity to the grid each year.
According to MORE, the project will generate enough electricity to power approximately 32,000 households while avoiding more than 26,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.
Trial operations have also begun at Stâlpu 1, which combines a 48 MW solar plant with an 8 MW / 16 MWh battery energy storage system.
MORE and Alive Renewable Holding acquired both projects in 2024. MORE holds an 80% stake in Stâlpu 2, while Alive Renewable owns the remaining share. In Stâlpu 1, Alive Renewable holds 90%, with MORE owning the remaining 10%.
The projects received construction approval from Romania's Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) last year, allowing development to move forward.
MORE and Alive Renewable acquired the two projects for EUR 15.9 million, while the combined investment is estimated at approximately EUR 83 million.
The projects are also eligible for grants of up to RON 112.3 million under Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), funded through the European Union's Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The projects mark MORE's expansion beyond the Greek market while highlighting the growing role of hybrid solar and battery storage projects across Southeast Europe. By combining renewable generation with energy storage, these facilities can improve grid flexibility, increase renewable energy integration, and strengthen energy security.
The investment also reinforces Romania's position as an emerging clean energy market and reflects the region's continued progress toward a more resilient and low-carbon energy system.
