Bulgaria Energy Storage Power Station Access Standards

In 2023, the Bulgarian Parliament introduced specific legislative amendments regulating the electricity storage. The rationale behind the amendments is to provide balance and flexibility to the power system. Energy storage is a crucial step for low-carbon economy since it enhances the security of supply and the development of renewables capacity.

Introduction to renewables sector Bulgaria's electricity transmission and distribution remains highly regulated.

Early 2023 the Bulgarian parliament introduced legislative amendments to enhance the development of the renewables sector. By means of amendments and supplementations in the Energy Act (EA), three major steps were undertaken: guarantees of origin in the exchange market was introduced.

Coal energy was the main source of electricity production in Bulgaria in 2022. It accounted for over 45 percent of total electricity generation. Nuclear energy ranked second, making up 35 percent of total production.

In the last three years, Bulgaria's photovoltaic installed capacity practically doubled, to 2.2 GW, with another 700 MW expected to become operational in 2023. With this pace, Bulgaria will surpass its 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan target for photovoltaic installations nearly seven years early.

By the end of 2024, Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator (ESO) will finalize its investment program aiming to ensure the grid connection of new power plants with a total installed capacity of 4,500 MW, primarily renewables. ESO, the country's transmission system operator, has invested more than EUR 25 million in digitalization of the grid.