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Electricity sector in Bulgaria

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Electricity sector of Bulgaria
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is the largest power plant in Bulgaria
Electricity production by source

The electricity sector in Bulgaria is an important part of energy in Bulgaria and is highly diversified.[citation needed] Nuclear is the largest source of power followed by coal and solar.

Power production

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See also: List of power stations in Bulgaria
Location of the major power plants in Bulgaria

Bulgaria consumes about 35 TWh of electricity per year,[1] and some is exported.[2] The residential sector is the largest consumer, followed by industry then services.[3]

Nuclear power

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This section is an excerpt from Nuclear power in Bulgaria.[edit]
class=notpageimage|
Nuclear power plants in Bulgaria (view)
 Active plants
 Unfinished/future plants

Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974.[4] The Kozloduy NPP operates two pressurized water reactors with a total output of 1906 MW. This makes Bulgaria the 21st-largest user of nuclear power in the world. Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant was officially terminated in March 2012, and a thermal powerplant was supposed to be built on the site.[5] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful. As of 2022, Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site,[6] and at Belene.[7]

Bulgaria has the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant with two pressurized water reactors (together 2000 MW net). Four old and unsafe VVER-440/230 reactors (4 x 408 MW net) were taken off-line in 2004 and 2007). The two active reactors cover almost half of Bulgaria's electricity demand.[8]

Coal power

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Some power stations are very dirty,[9][10] and in 2023 one was found guilty of excess sulphur dioxide air pollution, which might lead to court cases against others.[11]

In early 2023 the government attempted to postpone Bulgaria's EU commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% that year, because it did not want to close any coal-fired power stations.[12][13]

Fossil fuel subsidy of coal power is expected to end by 2025.[14] Bulgaria aims to phase out coal power (which is low quality lignite[15]) by 2038 or earlier.[16] The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air says that an earlier phase out would save many lives and much money. [17]

Hydropower

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This section is an excerpt from Hydroelectricity in Bulgaria.[edit]
The dam of Chaira Hydro Power Plant, the largest in Bulgaria
Ivaylovgrad Dam
In 2021, hydroelectricity generated 11% of Bulgaria's electricity.[18] As of 2020, the country's total installed electricity capacity was approximately 12,839 MW, with hydropower contributing 25%, or 3,213 MW.[19]

Wind power

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This section is an excerpt from Wind power in Bulgaria.[edit]

Wind power generated 2% of electricity in Bulgaria in 2023.[20] By the end of 2020 almost 1 GW of onshore wind power had been installed.[21] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 2 GW by 2030.[22] The total wind power grid-connected capacity in Bulgaria was 702 MW as of 2023.[23]

An energy island in the Black Sea has been suggested for joint development with wind power in Romania.[24]

Solar power

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Solar power in Bulgaria.[edit]

Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023.[25]

By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[26] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[27]

By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed.[28]

On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation.[29] However, long-term share of solar power is much lower. Director of Bulgarian transmission network estimated photovoltaics growth as 30% in 2022, and he expected 700 MW[30] new solar capacity in 2023, which could represent 30-40% YoY growth.

In April 2023 Bulgaria's Inercom signed a contract with Huasun for a supply[31] of 1.5GW solar modules.

Europe's (at the time) largest grid battery at 124 MW / 496 MWh opened at the 106/86 MW solar park in Lovetj i May 2025.[32]

References

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  1. ^ "Bulgaria - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  3. ^ "Bulgaria Energy Information | Enerdata". www.enerdata.net. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  4. ^ "Nuclear Power in Bulgaria". World Nuclear Organization. August 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  5. ^ Bulgaria quits Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, Novinite, 28 March 2012
  6. ^ "Bulgaria abandons Belene, announces new reactors at Kozloduy". 2022-02-16.
  7. ^ "Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  8. ^ "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". 4 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Coal power plant in Bulgaria is polluting rivers". Water News Europe. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  10. ^ "Bulgaria – Selected Issues".
  11. ^ "EU court rules Bulgaria unlawfully allowed coal-fired Maritsa East 2 plant to pollute the air". intellinews.com. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  12. ^ "Commitment about Coal-Fired Power Plants Should Be Put Off and Revised - PM Donev". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  13. ^ "Bulgarian lawmakers back coal plants with vote to roll back green targets". Reuters. Reuters. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. ^ "Experts: The Faster Bulgaria Closes Its Coal-fired Plants, the Cheaper Electricity Will Be". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  15. ^ "Bulgaria could add 7 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 - industry". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  16. ^ "Remaining EU Coal Power Polluters". Ember. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  17. ^ "Air quality impacts of delaying coal power plant decommissioning in Bulgaria". Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  18. ^ "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  19. ^ "World Small Hydropower Development Report 2022 - Eastern Europe" (PDF). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 2022.
  20. ^ "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". 4 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  22. ^ "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  23. ^ https://www.developmentaid.org/api/frontend/cms/file/2024/03/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2024.pdf
  24. ^ Spasić, Vladimir (2023-01-20). "Artificial energy island would help Romania, Bulgaria tap offshore wind in Black Sea". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  25. ^ "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  26. ^ "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  27. ^ "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  28. ^ Todorović, Igor (2025-04-02). "Greek companies expand to Bulgaria with solar power investments". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
  29. ^ [1]
  30. ^ [2]
  31. ^ [3]
  32. ^ Todorović, Igor (26 May 2025). "Largest battery storage system in Balkans commissioned in Bulgaria". Balkan Green Energy News.
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