Photo: Vecstock on Freepik
Environmentalists and locals are opposing a EUR 450 million project in Suhindol for a 500 MW solar park with 1 GWh in battery storage. They argue that the investor would take up 11% of arable land and 40% of pastures in the municipality in north central Bulgaria. The company vowed to conduct environmental protection measures and a community program.
After receiving complaints from environmentalist groups, the Administrative Court in Veliko Tarnovo overturned the approval for preliminary works on a hybrid power plant on 945 hectares – almost 9.5 square kilometers, in Suhindol in Bulgaria. The investor is Wabi-Sabi Alpha of Austria-based Green Source group. It got the green light two weeks before from the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Veliko Tarnovo.
Through its project firm, the company intends to build a solar park of 500 MW in peak capacity, with energy storage, Kapital reported. The batteries would have 250 MW in operating power and 1 GWh in capacity.
It would be the largest photovoltaic facility in Bulgaria, though divided into five units. They would be connected to the transmission grid via a 400 kV substation.
The firm took municipal land under lease for 36 years for the investment, estimated at EUR 450 million.
Wabi-Sabi Alpha would occupy 6% of Suhindol municipality
Environmentalists such as the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB or BDZP) and the inhabitants of the small municipality argued that the company started cutting trees and bushes before completing the necessary procedures. They warned that the facility would take away almost 11% of arable land and 40% of the pastures in Suhindol, and 6% of its overall territory.
The hybrid power plant would cover 30% of the designated area, which consists of several separated lots. But it would entirely be switched to industrial land. Some of the opponents also expressed concern for wildlife habitats, protected areas and species and archeological sites.
They claim that the environmental assessment process was reduced to a formality.
Investor promised to cover electricity costs for local authority
On the other hand, the firm offered a community program as well as some voluntary commitments beyond the measures that the environmental inspectorate ordered. Wabi-Sabi Alpha would compensate affected farmers. It said it would cover electricity costs for several municipal buildings, and also street lighting, which it would replace.
The firm vowed to sponsor the local football club, among other things.
Green Source is also active in Romania, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It founded Wabi-Sabi Alpha with LSG Group and Core Value Capital.
Citizens and activists in Bulgaria have been campaigning against several large renewable energy projects over the past few years.
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