Bulgaria

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Currently, there is about 12,668 MW of installed capacity in Bulgaria including thermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric resources.  Despite the current excess of capacity, Bulgaria is actively seeking outside investment to expand because 40 percent of the current generation is to be retired by 2010.  Bulgaria also imports over 70 percent of the fuel required for energy production and is interested in developing indigenous resources.  On January 1, 2002, Bulgaria passed the Ordinance on Setting and Applying Prices and Rates of Electric Energy.  This is a significant incentive that requires transmission and distribution enterprises to purchase renewable power at preferential rates.  A system of Green Certificates combined with base tariffs is planned to replace the current system in 2007.  As part of their obligation to the European Union, Bulgaria will have 11 percent of their gross electricity consumption generated from renewable energy sources by 2010.

Except for solar, Bulgaria has very promising renewable development opportunities.  Bulgaria is one of the top countries identified for wind energy development (3,400 MW mid term potential).  Despite limited legal and economical framework, Bulgaria has tremendous wind energy potential and state-of-the-art wind data supporting development.  Bulgaria has a sizable reserve of geothermal energy and is rich in low enthalpy geothermal waters used for space heating, greenhouses, drinking water, and balneology.  In addition, there may be the potential for up to 200 MWe electricity generation from geothermal wells, but more conclusive reports must be completed for verification.  Considering that approximately 90 percent of the country’s land is arable, agricultural land, or forests, the potential for the development of biomass projects looks promising with about 3,400 MWe of technical potential identified.  The Bulgarian government believes that in upcoming years there will be a great interest on the part of investors in the field of hydroelectric power, specifically small and micro hydropower plant projects. As part of the National Energy Strategy till’ 2020, the State envisages efficient water resource utilization as one of its main objectives. The State anticipates this can be achieved in two ways: through the privatization and rehabilitation of existing hydro plants and the construction of new hydro plants.  Although Bulgaria resides in an area with medium solar insolation the current low cost of heat and electricity may make the overall capital costs of solar energy uneconomic.  

View 2005 Country Profile

View 2002 Country Notes   (551 kB pdf)

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