Cabinet and company: not to shut down coal-fired power plants, but to build renewable energy sources

The EU’s top priority is the transition to a low-carbon economy and climate neutrality, which means a profound transformation across the economy. But this also opens up new opportunities for us: the production of energy from renewable sources. At the same time, we must think about our energy security. The Maritsa basin is a very important issue, in the winter it produces 60% of the electricity necessary for Bulgaria, and the rest of the time – 40%. We have always held the position that the transition should be smooth and in line with the EU Member States.

This was stated by the Minister of Energy, Temenujka Petkova, during a debate dedicated to the second pillar of the National Plan for Reconstruction and Sustainability: “Green Bulgaria”.

The coal issue must be posed very directly, it is not about closing it, but about building parallel capacities. It is not just about solar panels, but about biofuels, wind and dozens of others, the entire energy system is undergoing a profound transformation everywhere and we must get involved in it. Through market liberalization, renewable energy sources will replace old technologies, they must also create new jobs, said Julian Popov, senior political advisor for Central and Eastern Europe at the European Climate Foundation.

Environmental management expert and Denkstatt Managing Partner Boyan Rashev added that Bulgaria has another resource of its own: biomass and biogas from agriculture, which we use very little, and in Western Europe small towns are mainly heated by this. We also have geothermal energy that we don’t use.

According to Minister Petkova, the focus of the Recovery Plan is correctly placed on the transformation of the Electric System Operator, because it plays a key role in the normal operation of the entire system. When the electrical mix is ​​changed by turning on the RES, the system must be managed flexibly. Therefore, for the modernization of ESO for more than 500 million BGN reserved, which will be allocated to 9 sub-projects, including the construction of a systematic remote control of substations. of ESO, most of them are now managed on site; modernization of the telecommunications network; modernization of the energy market administration system; new cybersecurity system. There is also an outdoor artificial lighting project in municipalities, which will achieve carbon emission savings, energy efficiency, reduce costs: 452 million BGN will go to municipalities, and 50% of these funds must be repaid 5 years.

The Minister of Regional Development Petya Avramova addressed the issue of energy efficiency of buildings. Residential, public and industrial buildings will be rehabilitated with 2.5 billion BGN.

However, according to Boyan Rashev and Julian Popov, these funds should not be distributed in the form of a grant, but should be used to attract new funds, otherwise the transformation will not occur. Popov believes that beneficiary participation should be sought in all projects, including rehabilitation. Rashev added that we should not try to save, be it energy, but rather produce things that contribute to the circular economy. Also, Bulgaria is rich in metals, which are very important for this transition, and it does not use them enough. And he gave an example that our country is a very large exporter of copper, instead of investing it in the production of electric motors. Therefore, companies should change their approach, but they should not receive many subsidies, because large subsidies lead to a dead end.

“It would be a mistake to base the green transition solely on public investment; the big task is not to block opportunities for private investment in this sector, something I admit we have done over the years, “said Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev. He called for efforts to reach a public consensus on the issue and recognized that the transition would be a great challenge.

Rashev also addressed the issue of reducing primary energy by increasing gas consumption in homes and industry. However, according to Minister Petkova, this depends on the municipalities and companies that must show interest.