Electricity

Bulgaria’s 2053 energy strategy: coal until 2030, new nuclear capacities

bulgaria-strategy-coal-nuclear

Photo: distelAPPArath/Pixabay

Published

January 18, 2023

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

January 18, 2023

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

Bulgaria intends to burn coal until 2030 to ensure energy security amid the ongoing crisis, while at the same time developing nuclear, solar, wind, hydropower, battery storage, and hydrogen projects, according to a proposed energy strategy until 2053.

Apart from the energy crisis on a global and regional scale, the reasons for such a move include the state of the economy and the war in Ukraine, according to Rossen Hristov, the energy minister in the country’s caretaker government.

The 30-year strategic document may help the country renegotiate the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) with the European Commission, said Delyan Dobrev, chairman of the parliamentary committee on energy.

However, even if the negotiations fail and Bulgaria loses some of the EU funding earmarked for its NRRP, the country will not shut down its coal power plants as their economic benefits are larger than the potential losses, according to Hristov.

In the nuclear power sector, the strategy envisages building 2 GW of new capacity at the site of the Belene N plant by 2035-2040 and 2 GW of replacement capacity at the Kozloduy nuclear plant by 2045, local media reported.

The strategy envisages building 4 GW of nuclear capacity, 12 GW of solar, and 4 GW of wind

The document also projects adding 7 GW of solar and 2 GW of wind power plants by 2030, and 12 GW of solar and 4 GW of wind farms by 2050. In the field of energy storage, the strategy provides for expanding the Chaira pumped-storage power plant by 2030, building 1 GW of new pumped-storage facilities by 2035, and introducing 600 MW of battery storage by 2030 and 1.5 GW of seasonal storage systems by 2050.

Bulgaria also plans to roll out 600 MW of battery storage by 2030

The country also plans to develop a total of 870 MW of new hydropower projects by 2030 and 1.27 GW by 2050. In geothermal energy, the focus is on improving local district heating systems.

1.27 GW of new hydropower plants are expected to be built by 2050, along with 5 GW of hydrogen electrolyzers

In the hydrogen segment, the document envisages the construction of 1 GW of electrolyzers by 2030 and 5 GW of electrolyzers by 2050 for domestic consumption and export.

The 30-year plan also includes upgrading existing power transmission lines, building new ones, digitalizing the distribution network, and installing 1,000 charging stations for electric vehicles by 2030. The document also includes measures to tackle energy poverty and improve energy efficiency in households.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

WindEurope seeks next CEO as Giles Dickson to depart

WindEurope seeks next CEO as Giles Dickson to depart

08 July 2025 - Chief Executive Officer Giles Dickson will remain at the helm of WindEurope until it appoints his successor later this year

Market assessment expansion gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria

Market assessment underway for expansion of gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria

08 July 2025 - The IGB gas pipeline is planned to be expanded to five billion cubic meters. The non-binding market assessment phase is underway.

serbia electricity import report aers

Serbia’s electricity imports up 15% in 2024

08 July 2025 - Electricity consumption increased 2.7%, while production decreased 6.7% from 2023, according to the energy agency's report

romania Simtel mogans guris bess

Simtel to install BESS for Güriş in Romania

08 July 2025 - The EPC contract is worth RON 168.9 million (EUR 33.3 million), and the deadline for completion is nine months