Bulgaria's Ministry of Energy has announced the launch of a solar rebate scheme worth BGN 240 million to help homeowners reduce their carbon footprint and lower their electricity bills. The scheme will enable households to apply for financing of solar water heating systems and rooftop PV systems of up to 10 kWp, which can be paired with battery energy storage systems. The deadline for applications is November 10.
Bulgaria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan will provide a total of BGN 140 million for the scheme, with the rest coming from state and private sector funding. The first round of funding will distribute up to BGN 80 million. The cost of solar water heating systems can be financed in full up to a maximum of BGN 1,961, while PV systems up to 10 kWp will be financed up to 70% with a maximum sum of BGN 15,000. Households must be the permanent place of residence and use an inefficient heating source to qualify for funding.
Bulgaria has a high potential for solar energy, yet the country's solar target remains low, with solar accounting for only 2.6% of electricity in 2040. According to SolarPower Europe (SPE), Bulgaria reached 1.5 GW of cumulative installed PV capacity by the end of 2022, and SPE predicted that Bulgaria would hit 3.8 GW by 2024, exceeding its 2030 target.
However, in October 2022, Bulgaria's electricity system operator revealed that it had accepted applications to build new renewable energy projects with an aggregate installed capacity of more than 24 GW, double the country's installed generating capacity. The projects require a significant expansion of the grid, and the operator is discussing necessary actions with potential investors.
Bulgaria's power generation fleet is dominated by lignite and hard coal-fired power stations, which account for 4.5 GW. Non-hydropower renewables make up around 2.3 GW, hydro 3.2 GW, nuclear 2 GW, and natural gas 600 MW. With the solar rebate scheme, Bulgaria is taking a step towards a more sustainable energy mix and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels.
