The 160 MW Maglizh photovoltaic facility in central Bulgaria is set to begin production early next year after overcoming various complex challenges related to permitting and environmental protection. Project manager Angel Vassilev shared that the investors voluntarily launched a conservation program to protect the European ground squirrel and enhance biodiversity at the site.
The Maglizh solar park is located in the municipality of Maglizh, at the foot of Mt. Stara Planina, spanning 127 hectares of land. It is being developed by Belozem Solar Park 2, a joint venture between 360 Energy and Eurohold. According to Vassilev, the plan is to conduct a 72-hour equipment test in January, followed by the commissioning procedure. The project cost EUR 100 million, with funding provided through a combination of equity and a syndicated loan from Bulgarian and Austrian banks. Sunotec, a Bulgarian-German company, served as the main contractor for the project, handling the construction of the solar panel structures and overseeing the turnkey deal. Green Solar Energy was responsible for the installation of two new overhead power lines, the reconstruction of another, and a substation. The grid-related investment for these facilities totaled over EUR 10 million.
The photovoltaic plant is situated on municipal land classified as grades 9 and 10, which are among the lowest quality land categories. The project firm secured a 30-year land use agreement and paid a one-time fee for the land rights. Vassilev countered concerns about the impact of solar power plants on agricultural land, stating that only 0.05% of Bulgaria’s land is used for solar projects, primarily in grades 7-10 areas, while over 80,000 hectares of land remain fallow.
Environmental considerations have been integral to the Maglizh project. During environmental assessments, the presence of the protected European ground squirrel was discovered at the site. In response, the developers implemented special conservation measures, including preserving more than five hectares of habitat for the squirrels. Furthermore, an environmental organization is relocating some squirrels from areas with smaller populations to ensure their survival. The plant’s fences are designed to allow mammals and reptiles to pass through safely, and plans are in place to breed bees within the park to aid in pollination.
Looking to the future, the investors also plan to add battery storage within the next 18 months. This project follows the success of Belozem Solar Park 3, which commissioned the Verila solar power plant last year, making it the largest solar power plant in Bulgaria at the time. The progress of the Maglizh facility marks a significant step in Bulgaria’s growing solar energy sector, which has made impressive strides in recent years, particularly after a decade-long stagnation in wind power development.
