The Varna thermal power plant has signed a contract to install two gas-fired combined cycle units with an installed capacity of 270 MW each, just a few weeks after the 600 MW Bobov Doal coal-fired system announced it would convert to gas and hydrogen.

Thermal power plant (TPP) Varna decommissioned three coal-fired units with an installed capacity of 630 MW in total in 2017 as it replaced them with three equivalent gas units.

Varna TPP has signed an agreement with three Russian companies for gas units

Varna TPP said it signed a contract with three Russian companies – Rakityanski Armaturny Zavod, Trubnaya Metallurgicheskaya Kompaniya and Atomenergomash, for the reconstruction of the plant using Siemens technology.

The transformation plan comprises the construction of two combined cycle power units on the site of old units 1, 2 and 3 and the ability to include hydrogen with a share of up to 30%.

The investment is estimated at EUR 450 million

Total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 450 million while the units are expected to be online in 2025, the Varna thermal power plant said.

The power utility is owned by logistics company Sigda which acquired it from Czech energy group ČEZ in 2018.

On May 20, Grand Energy Similar, owner of the Bobov Dol thermal power plant, said it would switch it to natural gas and hydrogen. The current installed capacity is 600 MW, and the new gas units are planned to be online by 2025. Bobov Dol also burns waste.

TPP Bobov Dol intends to stop burning waste