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A 60 MW/120 MWh standalone battery system at the IMPOL-TLM industrial complex in Šibenik has entered operation, according to project developers NGEN and NextGrid Energy. The companies describe it as Croatia’s first large standalone battery of this size connected to the transmission grid; it provides frequency-restoration services to grid operator HOPS and earns revenue on a merchant basis, with no guaranteed income.
NGEN and NextGrid Energy have brought a 60 MW/120 MWh battery energy storage system into operation in Šibenik, marking a major addition to Croatia’s grid-balancing resources. The developers describe BESS Šibenik as the country’s first large standalone battery project of this size connected to the transmission grid; it is providing frequency-restoration services under an agreement with grid operator HOPS.
The system, located at the IMPOL-TLM industrial complex, was officially inaugurated on November 4. It is connected to Croatia’s 110 kV transmission grid and uses Tesla Megapack XL battery units, according to the project report. The facility was built in phases: an initial 10 MW/20 MWh section entered market operation in January 2026, ahead of the full system’s opening.
Project partners say the battery has provided automatic frequency restoration reserve (aFRR) services under a contract with HOPS since September 2026. The service helps the transmission system operator address short-term differences between electricity generation and consumption. The developers say the site participates in the balancing market on a fully merchant basis, rather than relying on guaranteed revenues.
The project was developed and delivered by NGEN and Croatian investment platform NextGrid Energy through their joint venture, NGEN Smart Energy Systems, for owner IE-Energy. NGEN acted as the main engineering, procurement and construction and technology partner. Its software and control platform monitors grid and market conditions, adjusts the system’s operation every 15 minutes and operates the battery as a virtual power plant, according to the company.
A New Resource for Croatia’s Grid
BESS Šibenik adds a sizeable, controllable source of flexibility to Croatia’s transmission system. Batteries can respond to changes in supply and demand more rapidly than many conventional generators, making them useful for balancing services such as aFRR. The project’s stated role is to help HOPS manage real-time imbalances, not to generate electricity independently.
The project’s scale and transmission-grid connection could also offer a reference point for further storage investment in Croatia. However, its commercial model carries risk: NGEN says there are no guaranteed revenues, and income depends on market demand for flexibility services. That means the system’s financial performance is exposed to market conditions, with owners and investors bearing that risk.
Support for the project came from the EU Modernisation Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Raiffeisen Mandatory and Voluntary Pension Funds, and IE-Energy. Earlier EBRD disclosures put the project’s cost at about €60 million, including €16.8 million in EBRD equity, €16.8 million in equity from the Raiffeisen pension funds and a €16.5 million capital expenditure grant from the EU fund.
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From a 20 MWh First Phase
The Šibenik site began operating in stages. Its first 10 MW/20 MWh phase entered the market in January 2026; the project has since reached a total stated capacity of 60 MW and energy capacity of 120 MWh. The partners say aFRR service began in September, before the official inauguration on November 4.
The project’s development comes amid wider investment in battery storage across Central and South-Eastern Europe. NGEN said it plans additional storage projects in Croatia and the region. In September 2026, the company commissioned an 85 MW/170 MWh battery in Austria, according to the source report. Those developments show the company’s regional activity but do not, by themselves, establish how quickly further Croatian projects will proceed.
Revenue and Operating Data
The project announcement does not provide operating data such as the battery’s actual dispatch levels, availability, realized balancing revenues or performance since aFRR service began. It also does not give a specific end date or detailed terms for the HOPS contract. Those details would help show how much the battery is contributing to system balancing and how its merchant business model is performing.
The developers’ description of the project as Croatia’s first large standalone battery of its size is attributed to the companies. The source does not set out an independent comparison of other Croatian storage projects or define a broader threshold for “large.” The report also notes that site photographs appear to show Sinexcel power conversion system equipment, but does not confirm the equipment supplier; that identification should be treated as unverified.
Further Projects and Market Results
The battery is now operating in the Croatian balancing market, and its next measurable developments will include its ongoing service to HOPS and the market performance of its merchant model. No public schedule for additional Croatian projects, or further milestones for BESS Šibenik, was provided in the source report.
NGEN has said it is planning more energy storage projects in Croatia and across Central and South-Eastern Europe. Details such as locations, capacity, financing and construction timelines remain unannounced in the material available. Future company or operator updates may clarify those plans and provide more information about how the Šibenik system performs.
Key Questions
Where is Croatia’s new 60 MW battery?
BESS Šibenik is at the IMPOL-TLM industrial complex in Šibenik, Croatia, and connects to the country’s 110 kV transmission grid.
What does the battery do?
According to its developers, the system provides automatic frequency restoration reserve services to HOPS, helping the grid operator manage short-term differences between electricity supply and demand.
When did the battery begin operating?
The first 10 MW/20 MWh phase entered market operation in January 2026. The partners say the battery began providing aFRR services in September, and the full 60 MW/120 MWh project was officially inaugurated on November 4, 2026.
Does the project have guaranteed revenue?
No guaranteed revenues were reported. NGEN said the project operates on a merchant basis, with income dependent on demand for flexibility services and market risk borne by the owners and investors.
Who developed and funded BESS Šibenik?
NGEN and NextGrid Energy developed and delivered the project through their joint venture, NGEN Smart Energy Systems, for owner IE-Energy. Backers included the EU Modernisation Fund, EBRD and Raiffeisen Mandatory and Voluntary Pension Funds.
Source: ess-news.com
