Utility-scale sodium-ion Romania is moving from concept to deployment as Renalfa Power Clusters advances a major hybrid renewable energy project in Arad County. The company has acquired two late-stage assets in western Romania and plans to combine them into one large power cluster. The site includes the 365 MWp Horia 2 solar project and a nearby 400 MW / 800 MWh standalone battery energy storage system. Together, these projects form the base of a larger expansion plan that targets commercial launch in 2027.
Moreover, Renalfa says the assets are fully derisked and already in late-stage development. That status gives the company a clear path to move into execution. As a result, the Horia-Arad cluster now stands out as one of the most important clean energy developments in Romania’s pipeline.
Utility-Scale Sodium-Ion Romania project combines solar and storage
Renalfa Power Clusters will merge the two acquired assets into a single hybrid power cluster. First, the company will integrate the 365 MWp Horia 2 solar power plant with the 400 MW / 800 MWh battery system. Then, it will expand the site in two additional stages.
In the first phase, Renalfa will increase solar capacity from 365 MWp to 568 MWp. At the same time, it will expand battery storage from 400 MW / 800 MWh to 669 MW / 2,000 MWh. This step will create a significantly larger hybrid asset with both power generation and flexible storage.
After that, the second phase will add another 400 MW / 1,608 MWh standalone BESS. The company also said this stage could include additional photovoltaic capacity. If Renalfa completes both phases as planned, the total storage capacity at Horia-Arad will reach 3.6 GWh.
Utility-Scale Sodium-Ion Romania strategy uses dual-chemistry storage
A key feature of the project is its dual-chemistry battery design. Renalfa plans to use both Lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries at the site. This approach gives the company more flexibility in how it designs and operates storage across the hybrid cluster.
In addition, Renalfa plans to deploy grid-forming inverter technology. This technology can help battery systems support grid stability more actively. The company also intends to add a proprietary AI-driven dispatch and control platform. Together, these systems will help the project deliver advanced grid services.
Renalfa CEO Ivo Prokopiev outlined the company’s vision for the cluster. He said the fully built Horia-Arad project will pioneer three deep-tech elements. These include hybrid dual-chemistry storage, grid-forming inverter technology, and an AI-based dispatch platform. According to Prokopiev, these tools will help transform the site into a “Sovereign Grid Anchor.” In practical terms, that means the cluster could provide grid services that operators once linked mainly to thermal power plants.
Utility-Scale Sodium-Ion Romania marks a first for Renalfa Power Clusters
This acquisition is the first deal for Renalfa Power Clusters. The joint venture brings together Vienna-based clean energy investment group Renalfa Solapro Group and Paris-based investment manager Rgreen Invest through its Infragreen equity funds. The platform focuses on Poland and Romania as its core markets.
Therefore, the Horia-Arad transaction does more than add capacity. It also signals how the new venture plans to build scale in Central and Eastern Europe. While the joint venture is new, the partners have worked together before through Renalfa IPP. That prior cooperation adds continuity to the new platform’s strategy.
Utility-Scale Sodium-Ion Romania gains momentum in a growing storage market
Romania’s energy storage market is also gaining policy support. Last month, the European Commission approved a €150 million subsidy scheme for standalone energy storage in the country. The program aims to support the installation of at least 2,174 MWh of standalone storage capacity.
Against that backdrop, Renalfa’s planned 3.6 GWh storage buildout looks especially significant. The project alone would represent a major addition to Romania’s battery pipeline. It also highlights the growing role of large-scale storage in balancing renewable generation and strengthening grid performance.
Furthermore, the Horia-Arad cluster combines several important trends in one development. It pairs large-scale solar with high-capacity storage. It uses a hybrid battery design that includes sodium-ion technology. It also adds digital optimization and grid-forming capability. As a result, the project offers a clear example of how next-generation renewable infrastructure is evolving in Romania.
Nyerges and Partners advised Renalfa Power Clusters on the transaction. Renalfa Romania Country Manager George Tecușan said the legal team supported due diligence, foreign direct investment clearance, and transaction structuring. However, the core story remains the scale and design of the Horia-Arad cluster itself.
Overall, Renalfa’s plan places utility-scale sodium-ion Romania firmly on the map. With 568 MWp of solar planned in phase one and total storage targeted at 3.6 GWh, the Horia-Arad cluster could become one of the country’s most notable hybrid clean energy assets by 2027.
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