Kraftfeld Energy GmbH and ALFI Green Energy Fund have closed an equity partnership for Gârla Mare 2, a 126 MWp solar PV project paired with a 200 MWh BESS in Romania, alongside a €90 million financing facility from Raiffeisen Bank International AG. ALFI holds a 65% stake, while Kraftfeld retains 35%, marking ALFI’s largest investment to date. Construction is underway, with COD expected in early 2027.

The key shift: European investors are prioritizing large, storage-integrated solar platforms over standalone generation assets. Hybridization is no longer optional—it’s becoming the default structure for bankable projects.

This deal reflects clear buyer behavior. Capital is moving toward grid-relevant assets that combine generation with flexibility. The 200 MWh storage component is critical—not just for arbitrage, but for managing curtailment and stabilizing revenues in volatile power markets. Across Europe, similar trends are accelerating, with BESS transactions surging ~120% Y/Y and dominating deal flow in markets like Germany, Italy, and the UK .

Financial structuring also signals maturity. Securing €90M project financing at this stage shows lenders’ growing comfort with hybrid assets, especially those backed by experienced developers and institutional partners.

Commercially, this matters because standalone solar is losing pricing power. Negative pricing, grid congestion, and merchant exposure are forcing developers to integrate storage to remain competitive.

What this signals is clear: Romania is emerging as a hybrid solar + storage hotspot, where scale, grid integration, and financing readiness-not just capacity-are defining winners.

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