Energy storage plays a vital role in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy and is a mean to improve energy efficiency and integrate more renewable energy projects into the power system contributing to reducing carbon emissions. At present, pumped-storage hydropower plants are the most widespread method for storing energy in Bulgaria. At the same time, various new storage technologies are rapidly developing.
According to the Integrated National Energy and Climate plan for the Republic of Bulgaria 2021- 2030 (incl. in the pending draft for actualization of the plan), supporting the wider uptake of smart energy storage systems is among the important measures to be introduced in the country. Such measures will enable the full potential of electricity generated from RES to be exploited. One of the goals concerning the enhancement of the national energy system’s adaptability involves both the expansion of current storage facilities and the construction of new ones. Following amendments to the Bulgarian Energy Act (‘EA’), energy storage has been included in the regulations governing energy-related activities.
According to the regulatory definition, energy storage shall be the postponement of the ultimate use of the electricity within the electricity system until a time that is later than its generation or conversion into a form of energy that can be stored, the storage of that energy and its subsequent conversion back into electrical energy or use in another energy medium. Additionally, an energy storage facility (‘ESF’) is defined as a facility within the electricity system in which energy is stored.
The ESFs for self-consumption of producers or end-customers which do not feed the stored electricity back into the electricity transmission or distribution grid are not subject to regulation by EA. Energy can be stored in facilities that are built either as additions to new or existing electricity generation or consumption works (with the exception above) or as a stand-alone facility.
Source: seenext.org
