Electricity sector in Bulgaria

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Electricity sector of Bulgaria
Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is the largest power plant in Bulgaria
Electricity production by source

The electricity sector in Bulgaria is an important part of energy in Bulgaria. Nuclear is the largest source of power followed by coal and solar. The grid needs modernisation.

Generation

Location of the major power plants in Bulgaria

Nuclear

Nuclear power plants in Bulgaria (view)
 Active plants
 Unfinished/future plants

Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974.[1] The Kozloduy NPP operates two pressurized water reactors with a total output of 1906 MW. This makes Bulgaria the 21st-largest user of nuclear power in the world. Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant was officially terminated in March 2012, and a thermal powerplant was supposed to be built on the site.[2] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful. As of 2022, Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site,[3] and at Belene.[4]

Bulgaria has the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant with two pressurized water reactors (together 2000 MW net). Four old and unsafe VVER-440/230 reactors (4 x 408 MW net) were taken off-line in 2004 and 2007). The two active reactors cover almost half of Bulgaria's electricity demand.[5]

Bulgaria has two operational reactors and four that have been closed down prior to 2006. The two operational reactors have a capacity of 2 GW in total. In 2020 nuclear energy produced 16.6 TWh, which was 41% of Bulgaria's electricity generation.[6]

In 2023, US based Westinghouse Electric Company are in the planning process with Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild to build the first of four new reactors in Bulgaria.[7][8]

Coal

Some power stations are very dirty,[9][10] and in 2023 one was found guilty of excess sulphur dioxide air pollution, which might lead to court cases against others.[11]

In early 2023 the government attempted to postpone Bulgaria's EU commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% that year, because it did not want to close any coal-fired power stations.[12][13]

Fossil fuel subsidy of coal power is expected to end by 2025.[14] Bulgaria aims to phase out coal power (which is low quality lignite[15]) by 2038 or earlier.[16] The Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air says that an earlier phase out would save many lives and much money. [17]

Hydro

The dam of Chaira Hydro Power Plant, the largest in Bulgaria
Ivaylovgrad Dam

In 2021, hydroelectricity generated 11% of Bulgaria's electricity.[18] As of 2020, the country's total installed electricity capacity was approximately 12,839 MW, with hydropower contributing 25%, or 3,213 MW.[19]

Solar

Solar irradiation map of Bulgaria

Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023.[20]

By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[21] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[22]

By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed.[23]

Bulgaria has a high potential for solar irradiation, especially in the southern regions of the nation.[24] Solar plants are rapidly increasing — from a total of 100 MW of solar power installed capacity in 2011,[24] as of 2023, Bulgaria has more than 2,400 MW, of them 600 MW were added in 2022.[25][26] The capacity is set to reach 3,000 MW.[26] The largest solar parks are Dalgo Pole (207 MW) in Plovdiv Province and Verila (123 MW) in Kyustendil Province.[26] There is a trend of many companies installing solar panels of own to reduce buying electricity from the grid, with a similar trend on the rise for domestic use as well.[25] For the first time in Bulgaria, albeit for a few hours in May 2023, photovoltaics produced more electricity than nuclear power plants and thermal power plants, providing 31% of the electricity production.[25]

Europe's (at the time) largest grid battery at 124 MW / 496 MWh opened at the 106/86 MW solar park in Lovech in May 2025.[27] A 69 MW section at the Tenevo 238 MW solar park opened in 2025, with 65 MW / 260 MWh of a planned 315 MW / 760 MWh battery energy storage system.[28] A 600 MWh battery opened in Burgas in 2026.[29]

Wind

Wind power generated 2% of electricity in Bulgaria in 2023.[30] By the end of 2020 almost 1 GW of onshore wind power had been installed.[31] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 2 GW by 2030.[32] The total wind power grid-connected capacity in Bulgaria was 702 MW as of 2023.[33]

An energy island in the Black Sea has been suggested for joint development with wind power in Romania.[34]

Transmission, distribution and storage

As of 2025 the grid needs modernisation.[35] It has been suggested that more connections with other countries would stabilize and reduce prices.[36]

Consumption

Bulgaria consumes about 35 TWh of electricity per year,[37] and some is exported.[38] The residential sector is the largest consumer, followed by industry then services.[39]

Market and regulation

According to the Center for the Study of Democracy the coal industry benefits oligarchs.[35]

References

  1. "Nuclear Power in Bulgaria". World Nuclear Organization. August 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
  2. Bulgaria quits Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, Novinite, 28 March 2012
  3. "Bulgaria abandons Belene, announces new reactors at Kozloduy". 2022-02-16.
  4. "Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
  5. "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". 4 July 2023.
  6. "Nuclear Power in Bulgaria". May 2023.
  7. "Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors". 19 January 2023.
  8. "Bulgaria moves to install new nuclear reactor at Kozloduy plant". 19 June 2023.
  9. "Coal power plant in Bulgaria is polluting rivers". Water News Europe. 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  10. "Bulgaria – Selected Issues".
  11. "EU court rules Bulgaria unlawfully allowed coal-fired Maritsa East 2 plant to pollute the air". intellinews.com. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  12. "Commitment about Coal-Fired Power Plants Should Be Put Off and Revised - PM Donev". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  13. "Bulgarian lawmakers back coal plants with vote to roll back green targets". Reuters. Reuters. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  14. "Experts: The Faster Bulgaria Closes Its Coal-fired Plants, the Cheaper Electricity Will Be". www.bta.bg. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  15. "Bulgaria could add 7 GW of renewable capacity by 2030 - industry". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  16. "Remaining EU Coal Power Polluters". Ember. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-20.
  17. "Air quality impacts of delaying coal power plant decommissioning in Bulgaria". Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. 2024-01-31. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  18. "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  19. "World Small Hydropower Development Report 2022 - Eastern Europe" (PDF). United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). 2022.
  20. "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". Archived from the original on 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  21. "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  22. "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  23. Todorović, Igor (2025-04-02). "Greek companies expand to Bulgaria with solar power investments". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
  24. Bakhtiari, Afshin (18 January 2022). "Bulgarian Solar Energy Market". Aesolar. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  25. "Solar Parks Provide More Than 31% of Electricity Production in Bulgaria". State Official Site of the Bulgarian National Radio. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  26. "Bulgaria Enjoys Solar Boom as Biggest Photovoltaic Parks Come Online". Balkan Green Energy News. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  27. Todorović, Igor (26 May 2025). "Largest battery storage system in Balkans commissioned in Bulgaria". Balkan Green Energy News.
  28. Jowett, Patrick (14 October 2025). "Renalfa switches on 260 MWh battery storage system in Bulgaria". Energy Storage.
  29. "Solarpro and CATL commission 602 MWh BESS in Bulgaria". Energy Storage. 19 June 2026.
  30. "Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България". 4 July 2023.
  31. "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  32. "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  33. "Renewable capacity statistics 2024" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-04-18.
  34. Spasić, Vladimir (2023-01-20). "Artificial energy island would help Romania, Bulgaria tap offshore wind in Black Sea". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  35. "BALANCING BULGARIA'S ENERGY FUTURE" (PDF). Successive governments have resisted phasing out coal, benefitting incumbent oligarchic networks.
  36. "Tsvetelina Penkova takes on one of the most important energy negotiations in the EU". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  37. "Bulgaria - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  38. "Bulgaria - Energy". www.trade.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  39. "Bulgaria Energy Information | Enerdata". www.enerdata.net. Retrieved 2023-01-12.