Solar power in Bulgaria

Solar power in Bulgaria
Solar irradiation map of Bulgaria
Installed capacity3.9 GW (2024) (33)
Annual generation5.3 TWh (2024)
Capacity per capita576 W (2024)
Share of electricity14% (2024)

Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023.[1]

By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[2] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[3]

By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed.[4]

On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation.[5] However, long-term share of solar power is much lower. Director of Bulgarian transmission network estimated photovoltaics growth as 30% in 2022, and he expected 700 MW[6] new solar capacity in 2023, which could represent 30-40% YoY growth.

In April 2023 Bulgaria's Inercom signed a contract with Huasun for a supply[7] of 1.5GW solar modules.

History

Solar installation, Aytos

Solar power in Bulgaria was expanded by 100 megawatts (MW) in 2011. A 16.2 MW solar power plant in Zdravetz, Bulgaria was expected to be completed in June 2012, with power being sold for $0.30/kWh in a fixed rate 20 year power purchase agreement.[8]

Since then, however, new installations have nearly come to a halt, with only about 12 MW of additional capacity installed during 2013 and 2014.

Year Photovoltaics
MWp GWh
2008 1.4
2009 5.7 3.3
2010 35 15
2011 141 120
2012 1,010 n.a.
2013 1,020 1,349
2014 1,022 1,245
2015[9] 1,041 1,391
2016[10] 1,043 1,392
2017[11] 1,046 1,408
2018[12] 1,052 1,381
2019[13] 1,059 1,252
2020[14] 1,121 1,478
2021[15] 1,246 1,488
2022 [4] 1,948
Source: IEA-PVPS/EPIA for capacity,[16] Photovoltaic Barometerfor generation,[17] previous[18][19][20][21]

Current and upcoming projects

PV power station Location Capacity in

MWp

Commissioning Notes/ref
Karadzhalovo Solar Park Karadzhalovo 60 2012
Pobeda Solar Park Pleven Province 51 2012
Verila Solar 1 Dupnitsa Municipality 124 2023 [5]
Bobov Dol Solar Park Golemo Selo 100 2024 [6]
Kyustendil Kyustendil More than 100 Concept stage [7]
Ogosta floating solar park Ogosta Reservoir 500 to 800 Concept stage [8]
Verila Solar 2 Dupnitsa Municipality 50 2023 [9]
Chirpan solar power plant Chirpan 160 2024 [10]
Dalgo Pole PV park (Phase 1,2,3) Kaloyanovo Municipality 208 2023 [11][12]
Knizhovnik Solar PV Park Haskovo Province 400 Concept stage [13][14][15]
Tenevo solar power plant Yambol Province 238 2025 [16][17]
Apriltsi Photovoltaic Park Pazardzhik Province 300 2023 [18]
Galabovo Solar PV Park Galabovo 150 2023 [19][20]
Terasol Solar Park Stara Zagora Province 116 2023 [21]
Ravnets PV Solar + Hydrogen Park Ravnets Air Base 120 Concept stage [22]
"Golf" PV Park Sliven Municipality 40 2023 [23]
Winslow PV Park Malko Tarnovo 36 2023 [24]
Gabare PV Park Byala Slatina Municipality 450 Concept stage [25]
Aratiden PV Park Kyustendil 100 2024 [26]
Saint George solar park Silistra Province 229 2024 [27]
Hadjidimitrovo-Kronos Kazanlak 80 2024 [28]
Belozem Solar Park 2 Stara Zagora Province 100 2024 [29]
Tsenovo Solar Tsenovo, Ruse Province 80 2025 [30]

See also

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024". Balkan Green Energy News. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  3. ^ "Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031". www.saurenergy.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  4. ^ Todorović, Igor (2025-04-02). "Greek companies expand to Bulgaria with solar power investments". Balkan Green Energy News. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ [3]
  8. ^ "Premier Power's New Project Will Nearly Double Bulgaria's Solar Capacity". energyboom.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  9. ^ "ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор".
  10. ^ "ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор".
  11. ^ "ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор".
  12. ^ "ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор".
  13. ^ "ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2019".
  14. ^ "ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2020".
  15. ^ "ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2021".
  16. ^ "Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2014" (PDF). iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=32. International Energy Agency — Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Photovoltaic Barometer - installations 2013 and 2014" (PDF). energies-renouvelables.org. April 2015.
  18. ^ "Photovoltaic barometer" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-12.
  19. ^ Photovoltaic Barometer 2010
  20. ^ Photovoltaic Barometer 2011
  21. ^ Photovoltaic Barometer 2012
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