Solar power in Bulgaria
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Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria's electricity in 2023.[1]
| Solar power in Bulgaria | |
|---|---|
Solar irradiation map of Bulgaria | |
| Installed capacity | 3.9 GW (2024) (33) |
| Annual generation | 5.3 TWh (2024) |
| Capacity per capita | 576 W (2024) |
| Share of electricity | 14% (2024) |
By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[2] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[3]
By the end of 2024 about 3.9 GW of solar had been installed.[4]
Bulgaria has a high potential for solar irradiation, especially in the southern regions of the nation.[5] Solar plants are rapidly increasing — from a total of 100 MW of solar power installed capacity in 2011,[5] as of 2023, Bulgaria has more than 2,400 MW, of them 600 MW were added in 2022.[6][7] The capacity is set to reach 3,000 MW.[7] The largest solar parks are Dalgo Pole (207 MW) in Plovdiv Province and Verila (123 MW) in Kyustendil Province.[7] 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.[6] 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.[6]
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.[8]
Since then, however, new installations have nearly come to a halt, with only about 12 MW of additional capacity installed during 2013 and 2014.
| Year | Photovoltaics | |
|---|---|---|
| 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[9] | 1,041 | 1,391 |
| 2016[10] | 1,030 | 1,392 |
| 2017[11] | 1,031 | 1,408 |
| 2018[12] | 1,033 | 1,381 |
| 2019[13] | 1,044 | 1,252 |
| 2020[14] | 1,100 | 1,478 |
| 2021[15] | 1,275 | 1,488 |
| 2022[16] | 1,737 | |
| 2023[17] | 2,927 | |
| 2024[18] | 4,560 | |
| 2025[19] | 5,910 | |
| Source: IEA-PVPS/EPIA for capacity,[20] Photovoltaic Barometerfor generation,[21] previous[22][23][24][25] | ||
On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation.[26] 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[27] 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[28] of 1.5GW solar modules.
Current and upcoming projects
| 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 | |
| Bobov Dol Solar Park | Golemo Selo | 100 | 2024 | |
| Kyustendil | Kyustendil | More than 100 | Concept stage | |
| Ogosta floating solar park | Ogosta Reservoir | 500 to 800 | Concept stage | |
| Verila Solar 2 | Dupnitsa Municipality | 50 | 2023 | |
| Chirpan solar power plant | Chirpan | 160 | 2024 | |
| Dalgo Pole PV park (Phase 1,2,3) | Kaloyanovo Municipality | 208 | 2023 | |
| Knizhovnik Solar PV Park | Haskovo Province | 400 | Concept stage | |
| Tenevo solar power plant | Yambol Province | 238 | 2025 | |
| Apriltsi Photovoltaic Park | Pazardzhik Province | 300 | 2023 | |
| Galabovo Solar PV Park | Galabovo | 150 | 2023 | |
| Terasol Solar Park | Stara Zagora Province | 116 | 2023 | |
| Ravnets PV Solar + Hydrogen Park | Ravnets Air Base | 120 | Concept stage | |
| "Golf" PV Park | Sliven Municipality | 40 | 2023 | |
| Winslow PV Park | Malko Tarnovo | 36 | 2023 | |
| Gabare PV Park | Byala Slatina Municipality | 450 | Concept stage | |
| Aratiden PV Park | Kyustendil | 100 | 2024 | |
| Saint George solar park | Silistra Province | 229 | 2024 | |
| Hadjidimitrovo-Kronos | Kazanlak | 80 | 2024 | |
| Belozem Solar Park 2 | Stara Zagora Province | 100 | 2024 | |
| Tsenovo Solar | Tsenovo, Ruse Province | 80 | 2025 |
