Solar power in Bulgaria

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{{Infobox country solar power|country=Bulgaria|image=SolarGIS-Solar-map-Bulgaria-en.png|caption=Solar irradiation map of Bulgaria|capacity=3.9|most_recent_year=2024|generation=5.3|most_recent_year_generation=2024|capacity_capita=576|most_recent_year_capita=2024|share=14%|most_recent_year_share=2024|rank=33|most_recent_year_rank=2024}}

Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023.{{Cite web | title=Срив при тока от въглища и рекорд за ВЕИ през юни в България | url=https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/ | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230704174851/https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/ | access-date=2024-12-25 | archive-date=2023-07-04}}

By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-09 |title=Bulgaria to install 2.5 GW of solar, wind by 2024 |url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/bulgaria-to-install-2-5-gw-of-solar-wind-by-2024/ |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=Balkan Green Energy News |language=en-US}} It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.{{Cite web |title=Bulgaria May Add 4.9 GW of Renewable Energy by 2031 |url=https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/bulgaria-may-add-4-9-gw-of-renewable-energy-by-2031 |access-date=2022-04-28 |website=www.saurenergy.com}}

By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed.{{Cite web |last=Todorović |first=Igor |date=2025-04-02 |title=Greek companies expand to Bulgaria with solar power investments |url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/greek-companies-expand-to-bulgaria-with-solar-power-investments/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Balkan Green Energy News |language=en-US}}

On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation.[https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/03/14/4460288_rekord_za_bulgariia_30_slunchev_tok_v_obednite_chasove/ ] 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[https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/03/07/4457393_nad_700_mvt_novi_solarni_moshtnosti_shte_zarabotiat_v/ ] 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[https://www.pv-tech.org/huasun-inks-1-5gw-hjt-module-supply-deal-with-bulgarian-epc-firm-inercom/ ] of 1.5GW solar modules.

History

File:1 BULGARIA AYTOS 0,6.jpg]]

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.{{cite web |title=Premier Power's New Project Will Nearly Double Bulgaria's Solar Capacity |url=http://www.energyboom.com/solar/premier-powers-new-solar-project-will-nearly-double-bulgarias-solar-capacity |access-date=22 April 2018 |website=energyboom.com |archive-date=22 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122061454/http://www.energyboom.com/solar/premier-powers-new-solar-project-will-nearly-double-bulgarias-solar-capacity |url-status=dead }}

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

class="wikitable" style="text-align: right; width: 320px;"

! rowspan=2 |Year

! colspan=2 |Photovoltaics

MWp

! GWh

align=center | 20081.4
align=center | 20095.73.3
align=center | 20103515
align=center | 2011141120
align=center | 20121,010n.a.
align=center | 20131,0201,349
align=center | 20141,0221,245
align=center | 2015{{cite web | url=http://www.eso.bg/doc?388 | title=ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор }}1,0411,391
align=center | 2016{{cite web | url=http://www.eso.bg/doc?389 | title=ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор }}1,0431,392
align=center | 2017{{cite web | url=http://www.eso.bg/doc?390 | title=ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор }}1,0461,408
align=center | 2018{{cite web | url=http://www.eso.bg/doc?391 | title=ESO.BG - Електроенергиен Системен Оператор }}1,0521,381
align=center | 2019{{cite web | url=https://www.eso.bg/doc?379 | title=ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2019 }}1,0591,252
align=center | 2020{{cite web | url=http://www.eso.bg/fileObj.php?oid=3179 | title=ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2020}}1,1211,478
align=center | 2021{{cite web | url=https://www.eso.bg/fileObj.php?oid=3573 | title=ESO.BG - Bulgarian Electric System Operator, Statistical Pocketbook 2021}}1,2461,488
align=center | 2022 [https://mc-cd8320d4-36a1-40ac-83cc-3389-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2023/Mar/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2023.pdf?rev=b357baf054584e589c8ab635140d0596]

|1,948

|

colspan=3 style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 0.85em; text-align: left; padding: 6px 2px 4px 4px;" |Source: IEA-PVPS/EPIA for capacity,

{{cite web

|url=http://www.iea-pvps.org/fileadmin/dam/public/report/technical/PVPS_report_-_A_Snapshot_of_Global_PV_-_1992-2014.pdf

|title=Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2014

|website=iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=32

|publisher=International Energy Agency — Photovoltaic Power Systems Programme

|date=30 March 2015

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407023056/http://www.iea-pvps.org/index.php?id=92&eID=dam_frontend_push&docID=2430

|archive-date=7 April 2015

|url-status=live

}}

Photovoltaic Barometerfor generation,{{cite web|title=Photovoltaic Barometer - installations 2013 and 2014|url=http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/EurObservER-barojdpv13-Photovoltaic-Barometer-2015-EN.pdf|website=energies-renouvelables.org|date=April 2015}} previous{{Cite web| title=Photovoltaic barometer | url=http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro-jdp9.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612152801/http://www.energies-renouvelables.org:80/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro-jdp9.pdf | archive-date=2013-06-12}}[http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro196.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2010][http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/baro202.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2011][http://www.eurobserv-er.org/pdf/photovoltaic_2012.pdf Photovoltaic Barometer 2012]

Current and upcoming projects

class="wikitable sortable"

!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

|[https://balkangreenenergynews.com/eurohold-building-bulgarias-largest-solar-power-plant/]

Bobov Dol Solar Park

|Golemo Selo

|100

|2024

|[https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/02/10/4447844_solaren_park_za_100_mln_lv_shte_stroi_svurzvaniia_s/]

Kyustendil

|Kyustendil

|More than 100

|Concept stage

|[https://bnr.bg/post/101771309/kustendil-shte-izgrajda-fotovoltaichen-park]

Ogosta floating solar park

|Ogosta Reservoir

|500 to 800

|Concept stage

|[https://www.economic.bg/bg/a/view/plavashtata-solarna-centrala-v-jazovir-ogosta-shte-zaraboti-do-4-godini]

Verila Solar 2

|Dupnitsa Municipality

|50

|2023

|[https://balkangreenenergynews.com/eurohold-building-bulgarias-largest-solar-power-plant/]

Chirpan solar power plant

|Chirpan

|160

|2024

|[https://balkangreenenergynews.com/austria-based-enery-preparing-to-build-bulgarias-biggest-solar-park/]

Dalgo Pole PV park (Phase 1,2,3)

|Kaloyanovo Municipality

|208

|2023

|[https://www.sens-energy.com/de/portfolio/default-880a236e7e/][https://www.lsg-group.eu/de/baustart-dalgo-pole-c/]

Knizhovnik Solar PV Park

|Haskovo Province

|400

|Concept stage

|[https://balkangreenenergynews.com/enery-bg-1-plans-to-build-400-mw-solar-power-plant-in-southern-bulgaria/][https://www.marica.bg/region/haskovo/glasuvaha-1402-dka-za-fotovoltaici-mejdu-knijovnik-i-dolno-voyvodino][https://www.xnews.bg/nikola-gazdov-ochakvame-dogodina-da-startira-stroitelstvo-na-solarnija-park-do-knizhovnik/]

Tenevo solar power plant

|Yambol Province

|238

|2025

|[https://kinsights.capital.bg/energy/2022/09/07/4344775_jens_rasmussen_we_are_starting_a_project_for_250_mw_of/][https://www.economic.bg/bg/a/view/zapochva-izgrajdaneto-na-hibriden-vei-kompleks-kraj-jambol?fbclid=IwAR0vg--zo0mWHVMYe1YlmlPsoEHvVxThlKpUnXv1MRNs5z57UWVT4OgL1XE]

Apriltsi Photovoltaic Park

|Pazardzhik Province

|300

|2023

|[https://sgrup.bg/projects-in-development/]

Galabovo Solar PV Park

|Galabovo

|150

|2023

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/_CGCalendar/2023/dokl-lic-galabovo-solar-1jan2023.pdf][https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2023/res_l_667_23.pdf]

Terasol Solar Park

|Stara Zagora Province

|116

|2023

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2023/res-l-669-2023.pdf]

Ravnets PV Solar + Hydrogen Park

|Ravnets Air Base

|120

|Concept stage

|[https://bnr.bg/burgas/post/101808277/ravnec]

"Golf" PV Park

|Sliven Municipality

|40

|2023

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2022/res_l_649_22.pdf]

Winslow PV Park

|Malko Tarnovo

|36

|2023

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2023/res-l-668-2023.pdf]

Gabare PV Park

|Byala Slatina Municipality

|450

|Concept stage

|[https://enery-element.eu/pdfs/220907-Uvedomlenie-DSP.pdf]

Aratiden PV Park

|Kyustendil

|100

|2024

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2023/res_l_687_23.pdf]

Saint George solar park

|Silistra Province

|229

|2024

|[https://balkangreenenergynews.com/rezolv-energy-acquires-rights-to-develop-bulgarias-largest-solar-plant/]

Hadjidimitrovo-Kronos

|Kazanlak

|80

|2024

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/reshenia/2023/res-l-694-07jul2023.pdf]

Belozem Solar Park 2

|Stara Zagora Province

|100

|2024

|[https://www.economic.bg/bg/a/view/nov-solaren-park-za-100-mln-evro-shte-byde-izgraden-kraj-myglij]

Tsenovo Solar

|Tsenovo, Ruse Province

|80

|2025

|[https://www.dker.bg/uploads/protokoli/zz/2023/prot_zz_261_23.pdf]

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Solar power in Europe}}

{{Renewable energy by country}}

Category:Electric power in Bulgaria