site.btaBulgaria Is One of 11 EU Countries Which Have Exceeded "20-20-20" Climate and Energy Targets

Sofia, April 20 (BTA) - Bulgaria is one of 11 EU member states which have exceeded the "20-20-20" climate and energy targets, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chairman Ivan Ivanov said on Friday. The "20-20-20" targets are about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of energy from renewable sources, and raising energy efficiency.

Ivanov was speaking at a conference in Sofia entitled "Market Integration of Renewable Energy Sources and Transition to Clean Energy." The event was part of the official programme of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council and was opened by Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova.

According to Ivanov, the market integration of renewable energy sources is one of the key questions which need to be addressed as Bulgaria advances towards a completely liberalized wholesale market in electricity. He said: "The complexity of the problem arises from the measures which Bulgaria has implemented in order to fulfill its national '20-20-20' targets." He noted that due to the fact that Bulgaria acceded to the EU relatively late, its national target was to have 16 per cent of its energy coming from renewable sources, and more than a year ago this share was already 18.2 per cent.

Wind turbines in Bulgaria have a total output capacity of more than 700 MW, solar power plants have a capacity of over 1,000 MW, hydroelectric power plants (including large ones) have a capacity of 3,200 MW, and biomass power plants have a total capacity of a little under 100 MW, Ivanov said.

Renewable sources account for 43 per cent of the total output capacity of the country's power plants, which stands at a little over 12,000 MW, he added.

The possibility is being considered to allow new renewable energy plants to sell their output not only through the energy exchange but also under contracts with consumers, so that they can finance their investments more easily, National Assembly Energy Committee Chairman Delyan Dobrev told the conference.

Dobrev said the final version of a set of Energy Act amendments will be considered by the competent parliamentary committee on second reading next Tuesday, and the full Parliament will vote on them on Thursday.