Bulgaria’s ESO has received grant to increase energy efficiency

The Bulgarian Electricity System Operator (ESO) has received a grant from the Operational Program Innovation and Competitiveness (OPIC) 2014-2020, to improve its energy efficiency.

The contract for implementation of this large-scale program was signed earlier this week and it will include ESO’s 273 sites across Bulgaria.

Under the Energy Efficiency Implementation Program, 520.000 bulgarian lev (EUR 265.000) will be provided. This sum represents 44 per cent of the eligible cost of the project.

The Energy Efficiency Program is based on 274 energy-saving measures recommended in Energy Audit. Expected result is energy consumption’s final reduction of 5,085.654 kWh per year, ESO said in the statement.

The project includes three packages of different measures.

The first package refers to outdoor lighting system – its modernization and reconstruction. Under this package, ESO is required to supply and install new high-efficiency LED lighting in its 273 substations in the country. This complete modernization of the existing outdoor lighting systems will lead to energy savings of 4,485.495 kWh per year and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 3.673,62 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year.

The second package comprises delivery, installation and commissioning of a new waste heat recovery system (WHRU) from existing auto-transformers in the ESO’s Plovdiv substation for the heating of five industrial buildings.

The implementation of the measures from this package will lead to energy savings of 612.399 kWh per year and a  greenhouse gases reduction of 218,75 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per year.

The final package is about introducing and certifying the energy management system BDS EN ISO 50001/EN ISO 50001 to ensure the sustainability of the investments and to implement new energy efficiency measures in the ESO company.

OPIC program strategy

The Operational Program Innovation and Competitiveness (OPIC) 2014-2020 has small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the main target group.

The Program’s strategy, as a part of the implementation of the EU structural and investment funds (ESIF) in Bulgaria, is closely related to the Investment for growth and jobs goal and Bulgaria‘s contribution to “Europe 2020” targets.

The program is focused on five priorities: technological development and innovation, entrepreneurship and SME growth capacity, energy and resource efficiency, removing bottlenecks in security of gas supplies and technical assistance.

Total Operational Program budget is EUR 1,27 billion, while total EU contribution is EUR 1,08 billion.