Without wind energy, Bulgaria risks losing its central role in the European energy sector

Bulgaria needs to rapidly build wind power capacity to balance solar energy. If it fails to do so, the country will lose its current central role in the European Union’s (EU) energy sector. This was stated by former interim Minister of Environment and Water Yulian Popov during an energy forum in Sofia.

According to him, what Bulgaria needs in terms of energy development is the rapid and substantial expansion of wind power capacity, in the range of 6 – 7 GW, to balance solar energy, while the remainder should be covered by batteries and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants.

If we do this, we will maintain our central role in the EU’s energy sector. If we do not make this change, then wind capacity in Romania and Greece – and in the future in the Western Balkans – will increase, and we will become importers,” Popov predicted.

He believes that the problem with wind projects is that they are often blocked on the basis of “unfounded claims” regarding their impact on nature, particularly birds.

Facebook drives Bulgaria’s energy policy to a very large extent, and this is a very serious matter,” he added.

No Energy Policy

According to Popov, the country essentially has no energy policy of its own, but this “is not necessarily a bad thing.”

If Bulgaria had an energy strategy developed five years ago, we would now be busily building gas-fired power plants, and then we would be wondering what to do,” he gave as an example.

The downside, however, is that consensus in our country “is formed to a very large extent by populism and almost not at all on the basis of real research and studies on what is good and what is not.”

That is why everything in the energy sector in Bulgaria moves in a chaotic manner, but it is heading in a certain direction, which is not necessarily bad,” he summarized.

The “Ideal” Energy Mix

According to Popov, the ideal energy mix for Bulgaria looks largely like the current one, but energy efficiency must be added to it, and the heating capacity must be changed, as it is an “energy guzzler.” As an example, he cited “Toplofikatsiya Sofia,” which needs to be modernized.

“Toplofikatsiya Sofia”, which is constantly losing billions, is already the largest gas consumer in Bulgaria. If it is modernized, it can free itself from gas consumption and, accordingly, achieve more normal prices and a market logic in which it can operate well, rather than constantly losing money. We must move in this direction,” he believes.

Coal will disappear

As for traditional energy sources, Popov predicts that by 2030, coal will disappear from the energy mix, “no matter what is done.”

What is happening with coal has been obvious to some people for the past 10 years. It must be acknowledged, and we must expect it,” the expert added.

Financial beneficiary of the quotas

Popov emphasized that Bulgaria is a financial beneficiary of emissions trading, and that this system, as well as others, including CBAM, “is not discussed properly.”

These are enormous resources that we view solely as an expense, and that is a big mistake,” he commented.

We remind you that in March, Bulgaria joined the group of 13 European Union countries insisting on a review of the Emissions Trading System (ETS). The demand includes extending free allowances beyond 2034, with their gradual reduction not beginning until 2028.

Translated with DeepL.