Solar power in Bulgaria

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

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

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

Bulgaria has a high potential for solar irradiation, especially in the southern regions of the nation. Solar plants are rapidly increasing — from a total of 100 MW of solar power installed capacity in 2011, as of 2023, Bulgaria has more than 2,400 MW, of them 600 MW were added in 2022. The capacity is set to reach 3,000 MW. The largest solar parks are Dalgo Pole (207 MW) in Plovdiv Province and Verila (123 MW) in Kyustendil Province. There is a trend of many companies installing solar panels of own to reduce buying electricity from the grid, with a similar trend on the rise for domestic use as well. For the first time in Bulgaria, albeit for a few hours in May 2023, photovoltaics produced more electricity than nuclear power plants and thermal power plants, providing 31% of the electricity production.

History

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.

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

YearPhotovoltaics 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 1,041 1,391 2016 1,030 1,392 2017 1,031 1,408 2018 1,033 1,381 2019 1,044 1,252 2020 1,100 1,478 2021 1,275 1,488 2022 1,737 2023 2,927 2024 4,560 2025 5,910 Source: IEA-PVPS/EPIA for capacity, Photovoltaic Barometerfor generation, previousPhotovoltaic Barometer 2010Photovoltaic Barometer 2011Photovoltaic Barometer 2012 On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation. 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 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 of 1.5GW solar modules.

Current and upcoming projects PV power stationLocationCapacity in MWpCommissioningNotes/refKaradzhalovo Solar ParkKaradzhalovo602012Pobeda Solar ParkPleven Province512012Verila Solar 1Dupnitsa Municipality1242023Bobov Dol Solar ParkGolemo Selo1002024Kyustendil KyustendilMore than 100Concept stageOgosta floating solar parkOgosta Reservoir500 to 800Concept stageVerila Solar 2Dupnitsa Municipality502023Chirpan solar power plantChirpan1602024Dalgo Pole PV park (Phase 1,2,3) Kaloyanovo Municipality2082023Knizhovnik Solar PV Park Haskovo Province400Concept stageTenevo solar power plantYambol Province2382025Apriltsi Photovoltaic ParkPazardzhik Province3002023Galabovo Solar PV ParkGalabovo1502023Terasol Solar ParkStara Zagora Province1162023Ravnets PV Solar + Hydrogen ParkRavnets Air Base120Concept stage"Golf" PV ParkSliven Municipality402023Winslow PV ParkMalko Tarnovo362023Gabare PV ParkByala Slatina Municipality450Concept stageAratiden PV ParkKyustendil1002024Saint George solar parkSilistra Province2292024Hadjidimitrovo-KronosKazanlak802024Belozem Solar Park 2Stara Zagora Province1002024Tsenovo SolarTsenovo, Ruse Province802025

Solar power in Bulgaria

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