The Gabrovo Municipality in Bulgaria is taking yet another step towards sustainability by building a solar-powered system to collect rainwater and use it to irrigate urban green spaces. Gabrovo already has two citizen-led renewable energy communities, including the country’s first.
The irrigation system, whose construction is about to begin, will use rainwater, but also surface water from the Sinkevitsa River, the municipality announced on its website.
Rainwater will be collected from the roof of the local theater building. It will pass through a filtration system and then be directed to storage tanks. The system will be supplemented by a facility collecting water from the Sinkevitsa River during periods of high water levels, ensuring enough irrigation even with insufficient rainfall, the municipality explained.
The facilities will be powered by a photovoltaic plant, reducing the system’s carbon footprint to almost zero, it added.
In an interview with BNR Radio Sofia, Gabrovo Mayor Tanya Hristova said the municipality continues to work towards achieving climate neutrality by 2030, combining investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable transportation, the circular economy, and waste management, according to the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Gabrovo launched Bulgaria’s first citizen energy community in 2024
Gabrovo established Bulgaria’s first citizen-led energy community in 2024, bringing together 73 founding members, including citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and organizations.
The crowdfunding effort raised over BGN 160,000 (around EUR 82,000) to develop a shared photovoltaic installation on a landfill, with a peak capacity of 100 kW. The project has also been selected to receive a EUR 45,000 grant from the European Energy Communities Facility, according to the municipality’s website.
The shared solar plant, with a peak capacity of 100 kW, was built on a landfill
Following the success of the first initiative, Gabrovo has created a second energy community, envisaging a 150 kW rooftop photovoltaic system to power public transportation with clean energy.
Gabrovo is also the first municipality in the country to use an electric bus in public transportation, on the Sofia-Gabrovo intercity line, according to the National Association of Municipalities.
Gabrovo’s second energy community plans a 150 kW rooftop solar plant for public transportation
The Gabrovo municipality, located in central Bulgaria, has a population of about 76,000.
In 2024, the Bulgarian seaside city of Burgas announced plans to set up a citizen energy community with a PV plant on a sports venue roof.
In September 2025, Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, decided to establish its own energy community. It called on individuals and firms to invest in a rooftop solar power plant with 74.8 kW in peak capacity.
