Coal-fired electricity generation in Bulgaria decreased by 58% in May 2023, according to a report published by Fluence, (Bulgaria: Energy Storage as a Catalyst for a Changing Power Sector). At the same time, the contribution of solar generation increased by more than 30%.
Solar energy also had its highest ever share of electricity generation for several hours around noon in a single day. This led to another first for the Bulgarian electricity market; prices dropped to zero on 20 and 21 May.
In 2022, 52% of electricity generation will come from thermal power plants, with just 7% from solar and wind. The drive for renewables in Bulgaria was largely prompted by the European Commission’s push for more ambitious decarbonization and renewable targets.
Experts say there is a 35 GW pipeline of solar and wind projects requesting to join country’s network. According to the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity, in the last three years, Bulgaria doubled its solar installed capacity to 2.2 GW, with another 700 MW expected to become operational by the end of 2023.
