 Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is the largest power plant in Bulgaria |
The electricity sector in Bulgaria is an important part of energy in Bulgaria and is highly diversified.[ citation needed ] Nuclear is the largest source of power followed by coal and solar.
Bulgaria consumes about 35 TWh of electricity per year, [1] and some is exported. [2] The residential sector is the largest consumer, followed by industry then services. [3]
Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974. [4] 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. [5] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful. As of 2022 [update] , Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site, [6] and at Belene. [7]
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. [8]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]
Wind power generated 2% of electricity in Bulgaria in 2023. [20] By the end of 2020 almost 1 GW of onshore wind power had been installed. [21] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 2 GW by 2030. [22] The total wind power grid-connected capacity in Bulgaria was 702 MW as of 2023. [23]
An energy island in the Black Sea has been suggested for joint development with wind power in Romania. [24]
Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023. [25]
By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed. [26] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030. [27]
By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed. [28]
On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation. [29] 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 [30] 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 [31] of 1.5GW solar modules.Europe's (at the time) largest grid battery at 124 MW / 496 MWh opened at the 106/86 MW solar park in Lovetj i May 2025. [32]
