Aukera lands $55.41M from IFC to finish Romania's largest battery project
What's the deal? AukeraDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the pan-European battery storage and renewable energy platform, has reached financial close on a $55.41 million financing package from the International Finance Corporation to complete the second phase of its Gura Ialomitei battery project in Romania. The package includes $45.70 million in capital expenditure financing plus a $9.71 million tranche for VAT.
What's the endgame? The funds will build the remaining 100MW / 200MWh at the site, completing Aukera's flagship 250MW / 500MWh project. Once operational — expected by early 2027 — it is set to become Romania's largest operational battery storage facility and one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe.
Why now? The IFC financing follows Phase One, which delivered 150MW / 300MWh and reached commercial operation in June 2026. That earlier phase secured a $68.55 million debt facility from Kommunalkredit Austria AG in November 2025.
Across both phases, Aukera has now closed two separate project financings with two international financial institutions, taking total debt financing above $114.25 million. Aukera is backed by AtlasInvestDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, ReggeborghDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and SFPIMDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Belgium's sovereign wealth fund.
Why it matters: Battery storage is increasingly viewed as critical infrastructure in Romania, where renewable generation is expanding. Such systems balance supply and demand, support grid stability, and improve use of existing transmission networks.
"By helping pioneer financing for this emerging sector, IFC is paving the way for greater private investment in the country's clean and competitive energy future," said Marcelo Castellanos, World Bank Group country manager for Romania.
The signal: Aukera co-founder Catalin Breaban said the second-phase close signals the quality of the project and the scale of opportunity in Romania's storage market. The platform is now active in five European countries, and Breaban described Gura Ialomitei as the first in what will be a substantial Romanian portfolio.
Read more: Blackridge Research
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