Bulgaria · grid · distribution companies
Wasted sunsets … and wires
29 October 2023 · First published in Capital · Original in Capital →
In brief
Bulgaria's grid was built for 9–12 GW loads while today's peaks are about 7 GW, so there is room for much more renewable capacity without vast investment. The obstacles are distribution companies' financial model (the network charge is 110% of the energy price) and the idle Chaira pumped-storage plant; the author proposes an access fee, time-of-use tariffs, smart meters and a new pumped-storage plant at Batak–Dospat, which could make Bulgaria a regional leader by 2030.