The new battery on the Balkans
Bulgaria is working to strengthen regional energy connectivity, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov announced at the ENERGY SUMMIT 2025, the country's largest energy forum. Following a high-level ministerial meeting with representatives from Azerbaijan, Greece, Moldova, and Hungary, he emphasized Bulgaria's commitment to modernizing its electricity grid and developing 10,000 MWh of energy storage capacity.
Stankov stated that the country aims to unlock its wind energy potential and reinforce the balancing role of natural gas. While European Energy Storage Association representative Jacopo Tosoni called Bulgaria's ambition to become Europe's "largest battery" optimistic, he acknowledged the country's potential given strong international financial backing.
AI for industry
Bulgarian energy management company AIoTCloud has secured a 1 million euro investment from IT outsourcing firm CleverPine and angel investors Dimitar Dimitrov (CEO of Shelly Group) and Blagoy Stoyanov (CEO of VAS Pro). This marks the company's second external funding round, following a 200,000 euro investment in July 2023 from Shelly Group and Vitosha Ventures Partners.
AIoTCloud uses AI-driven data aggregation to help businesses reduce utility costs by up to 30% and optimize operations by 25%. Founded in late 2022, the company has already partnered with major clients, including the Sofia Municipality, Kitchen59, and Uncle Charly's ice cream factory.
New Wizz Air routes to Krakow and Alghero
Wizz Air has announced two new routes from Sofia, one to Kraków, Poland, and another to Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia.
Flights will begin in June and are already available for booking on the airline's website. The Sardinia route will operate twice a week with fares starting at 73.99 levs, while flights to Kraków will run three times a week with tickets starting at 50.99 levs. This marks Wizz Air's first direct flight from Sofia to a Polish city, as low-cost airlines have not previously operated a route between Sofia and Warsaw.
The new battery on the Balkans
Bulgaria is working to strengthen regional energy connectivity, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov announced at the ENERGY SUMMIT 2025, the country's largest energy forum. Following a high-level ministerial meeting with representatives from Azerbaijan, Greece, Moldova, and Hungary, he emphasized Bulgaria's commitment to modernizing its electricity grid and developing 10,000 MWh of energy storage capacity.
