Bulgaria to host renewable electricity plants on Luxembourg’s behalf

Bulgaria joined Finland as a host country for the 2026 call through the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM). Luxembourg intends to fund renewable energy projects there, which will enable it to statistically attribute 80% of output to itself.

In the European Union, a member state that missed its renewable energy target can arrange a so-called statistical transfer, for a fee, from a fellow country that surpassed its own target. Another way is to fund power plant projects in another member state, via the EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (RENEWFM).

In the first round, Finland agreed to host seven solar parks on behalf of Luxembourg. The grants amounted to EUR 27.5 million. Next time, also for Luxembourg, it got seven photovoltaic projects and Estonia got two for wind power. The beneficiaries won EUR 52 million in total.

This year, Bulgaria decided to participate with Finland, again on behalf of Luxembourg. Conveniently, the plan is for photovoltaic plants with battery storage in the country’s coal regions in transition: Pernik, Kyustendil and Stara Zagora. The investments are aimed at ensuring long-term employment and energy security. They complement the so-called territorial just transition plans (TJTPs) for a smooth coal phaseout.

The budget for the forthcoming round amounts to EUR 55 million

Bulgaria applied through the call that the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG Ener) published. The overall budget is EUR 55 million.

The facilities must operate for at least 15 years. Bulgaria provides land instead of Luxembourg, which gets 80% of the green energy certificates from production.

As for Finland, solar farms are planned again, for the upcoming round.

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) is responsible for conducting the calls and monitoring project implementation.