New renewable energy sources will add up to 2,000 MW to the Bulgarian grid in 2024

Between 1500 and 2000 MWh from new renewable energy sources will be commissioned next year in Bulgaria. Angelin Tsachev, the executive director of the country’s Electricity System Operator (ESO), announced this during a round table event, called "Innovations in energy storage - a key to a sustainable energy transition", organized by the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) and Technical University in Sofia.

Tsachev explained that the grid network is feeling pressure from intermittent renewable sources supply due to the lack of flexibility in the country's energy production mix. Renewables already occupy about 18% of the total electricity generating capacity in Bulgaria.

The construction of flexible capacities and new renewable energy sources must go hand in hand", he added.

According to him, the solution can be found in energy storage systems, but there is still a lack of interest in them. However, they can help the grid, and in order to increase attention to them, special policies must be implemented in this direction.

According to ESO calculations, 300 – 500 MW of storage systems should be introduced in the next 2-3 years in order to enable balancing of the grid.

The electricity operator appeals for the Chaira Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant (Chaira PSHPP) to be quickly restored and to expand its capacity with the addition of a new dam – Yadenitsa. These projects would boost its electricity storage capacity 4 times – or by up to 20,000 MWh.

Two new planned PSHPP projects - on the Batak and Dospat dams - will also support the operation of the grid network to help it cope with the inflow of renewable electricity.

ESO needs more than 3000 MW of new PSHPP capacities in the next 4-5 years,

if we want investments in the green transformation to continue," added Angelin Tsachev.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov