International Power Supply (IPS) has officially launched Factory X1, marking the opening of Bulgaria’s first battery energy storage system (BESS) gigafactory. Located in the Chelopechene area of the Kremikovtsi industrial district near Sofia, the facility is recognized by the European Commission as a strategic project for advancing a net-zero industry. Factory X1 forms part of the Hemus high-tech industrial park and began production with an initial annual capacity of 3 GWh, which IPS plans to increase to 5 GWh by mid-next year.
The plant will produce X-BESS modular systems, each offering 8.2 MWh of storage capacity. IPS reports that more than 70% of its supply chain is based in Europe, encompassing distributed liquid cooling systems, mechanical structures and housings, electronics and control units, inverters, and its proprietary battery management system. While most components are sourced domestically or regionally, the lithium-ion cells themselves are supplied by Chinese manufacturers EVE and Cornex.
“Made in Europe – the mission is possible. European know-how, European technology and IP, European sovereign BESS Gigafactory recognized as strategic manufacturing project from the European Commission. Today, it all starts – right here in Bulgaria,” said Chief Executive Officer Alexander Rangelov.
Looking ahead, IPS is developing a second manufacturing project valued at €160 million, which would add 10 GWh of annual BESS capacity. The company is seeking European Union funding for this expansion and is considering sites near coal-fired power plants in the Maritsa East complex and the Bobov Dol region.
In parallel, MM Energy has announced plans to build a 10 GWh gigafactory in Poland using IPS’s technology, further demonstrating the reach of the company’s modular BESS solutions.
Source: Balkan Green Energy News
