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Electricity sector in Bulgaria

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The electricity sector in Bulgaria is an important part of energy in Bulgaria and is highly diversified. As of 2021 nuclear power accounts for 34.7% of Bulgaria's power, coal power provides 39.4%, while renewable energy provides 15.8% of the country's electricity needs.[1]

Electricity sector of Bulgaria
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is the largest power plant in Bulgaria
Bulgaria electricity mix 2023

Power production

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See also: List of power stations in Bulgaria
 
Location of the major power plants in Bulgaria

Bulgaria consumes about 35 TWh of electricity per year,[2] and some is exported.[3] The residential sector is the largest consumer, followed by industry then services.[4]

Nuclear power

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This section is an excerpt from Nuclear power in Bulgaria.[edit]
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Nuclear power plants in Bulgaria (view)
  Active plants
  Unfinished/future plants

Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974.[5] The Kozloduy NPP operates two pressurized water reactors with a total output of 1906 MW. This makes Bulgaria the 21st-largest user of nuclear power in the world. Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant was officially terminated in March 2012, and a thermal powerplant was supposed to be built on the site.[6] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful. As of 2022, Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site,[7] and at Belene.[8]

Bulgaria has the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant with two pressurized water reactors (together 2000 MW net). Four old and unsafe VVER-440/230 reactors (4 x 408 MW net) were taken off-line in 2004 and 2007). The two active reactors cover almost half of Bulgaria's electricity demand.[9]

Coal power

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Some power stations are very dirty,[10][11] and in 2023 one was found guilty of excess sulphur dioxide air pollution, which might lead to court cases against others.[12]

In early 2023 the government attempted to postpone Bulgaria's EU commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% that year, because it did not want to close any coal-fired power stations.[13][14]

Fossil fuel subsidy of coal power is expected to end by 2025.[15] Bulgaria aims to phase out coal power (which is low quality lignite[16]) by 2038 or earlier.[17] The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air says that an earlier phase out would save many lives and much money. [18]

Hydropower

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This section is an excerpt from Hydroelectricity in Bulgaria.[edit]
 
The dam of Chaira Hydro Power Plant, the largest in Bulgaria
 
Ivaylovgrad Dam
In 2021, hydroelectricity generated 11% of Bulgaria’s electricity.[19] As of 2020, the country's total installed electricity capacity was approximately 12,839 MW, with hydropower contributing 25%, or 3,213 MW.[20]

Wind power

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This section is an excerpt from Wind power in Bulgaria.[edit]

Wind power generated 2% of electricity in 2023.[21] By the end of 2020 almost 1 GW of onshore wind power had been installed.[22] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 2 GW by 2030.[23] The total wind power grid-connected capacity in Bulgaria was 702 MW as of 2023.[24]

An energy island in the Black Sea has been suggested for joint development with wind power in Romania.[25]

Solar power

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This section is an excerpt from Solar power in Bulgaria.[edit]
 
Solar potential in Bulgaria

Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria’s electricity in 2023.[26]

By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[27] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[28]

On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation. However, long-term share of solar power is much lower. Director of Bulgarian transmission network estimated photovoltaics growth as 30% in 2022, also he expects 700 MW new solar capacity in 2023, which could represent 30-40% YoY growth.

In April 2023 Bulgaria's Inercom signed contract with Huasun for supply of 1.5GW solar modules.

References

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  1. ^ "Bulletin on the Condition and Development of Energy in the Republic of Bulgaria in 2021" (PDF). Official Site of the Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  3. ^ "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  4. ^ "Bulgaria Energy Information | Enerdata". www.enerdata.net. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  5. ^ "Nuclear Power in Bulgaria". World Nuclear Organization. August 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  6. ^ Bulgaria quits Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, Novinite, 28 March 2012
  7. ^ "Bulgaria abandons Belene, announces new reactors at Kozloduy". 2022-02-16.
  8. ^ "Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  9. ^ https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/
  10. ^ "Coal power plant in Bulgaria is polluting rivers". Water News Europe. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  11. ^ "Bulgaria – Selected Issues".
  12. ^ "EU court rules Bulgaria unlawfully allowed coal-fired Maritsa East 2 plant to pollute the air". intellinews.com. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  13. ^ "Commitment about Coal-Fired Power Plants Should Be Put Off and Revised - PM Donev". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. ^ "Bulgarian lawmakers back coal plants with vote to roll back green targets". Reuters. Reuters. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  15. ^ "Experts: The Faster Bulgaria Closes Its Coal-fired Plants, the Cheaper Electricity Will Be". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  16. ^ "Bulgaria could add 7 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 - industry". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  17. ^ "Remaining EU Coal Power Polluters". Ember. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  18. ^ "Air quality impacts of delaying coal power plant decommissioning in Bulgaria". Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  19. ^ "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  20. ^ "World Small Hydropower Development Report 2022 - Eastern Europe" (PDF). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 2022.
  21. ^ "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". 4 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  23. ^ "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  24. ^ https://www.developmentaid.org/api/frontend/cms/file/2024/03/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2024.pdf
  25. ^ Spasić, Vladimir (2023-01-20). "Artificial energy island would help Romania, Bulgaria tap offshore wind in Black Sea". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  26. ^ https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/
  27. ^ "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  28. ^ "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
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