site.btaSofia Hosts International Conference on Energy and Climate Security in Europe

December 1 (BTA) - An international conference on energy and climate security prospects in Europe took place here on Wednesday. The forum, organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), discussed Bulgaria's low-carbon future in the global energy crisis.

The event discussed various solutions for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as well as its potential impact on energy prices, security of supply and environmental sustainability in the future.

Thorsten Geissler, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Field Office Bulgaria, stressed during the conference that energy and climate security should be should be seriously considered. Climate changes can only be tackled by zero emissions economy, based on renewable energy. That is the purpose of the Green Deal, he said.

Martin Vladimirov, Energy and Climate Director at CSD, argued that Bulgaria should terminate the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) project, as nuclear energy will be hardly needed by 2040. Natural gas should be replaced by renewable sources of energy, as well, he added. The new plan for Bulgaria includes the construction of wind parks along the Black Sea coast and the use of geothermal energy, as Bulgaria uses only one third of its potential.

Decarbonization in Bulgaria runs slowly. The country should start decentralizing civil projects instead of focusing on the big ones, as this may bring capital risks and risks of corruption, Vladimirov said.

Bulgaria's energy poverty rate should be lowered. The building rehabilitation process should be accelerated as only 0.5 per cent of all homes have been rehabilitated so far and in the years to come this percentage should increase by at least 3 per cent, Vladimirov noted.

Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, Director of the Center for Energy and Climate at the French Institute of International Relations, stressed that Bulgaria does not have as much financial resources as Germany or Switzerland and should keep producing nuclear energy by 2030 - 2040.

There must be a balance between nuclear energy and renewable sources. This is a great opportunity for Bulgaria as it has great potential to develop solar energy, too, Eyl-Mazzega said.

Energy transition should be accelerated. Tackling climate changes should not be at industry's expense and the transition process should be managed carefully, Eyl-Mazzega also said, adding that the energy efficiency is of great importance.

Ivan Ivanov, Chairman of the Energy and Water Regulatory Committee (EWRC), stressed that Bulgaria should adopt a new energy strategy, accelerate the development of renewable energy sources and decentralize its energy system.

Even now the prices of carbon dioxide emissions, emitted by coal-fired power plants, are extremely high, reaching 200 leva per 1 MWh. In addition to that, the European Union will ban state aids to coal-fired power plants by 2025, Ivanov noted.

The construction of a replacing energy power for Kozloduy NPP Units 5 and 6 should start when their operational life is extended by 10 years for the last time. A country should build NPP only if it needs the power and at the moment Bulgaria does not need it, as it even exports 1000 to 2000 MWh of electricity to Balkan countries daily, Ivanov argued. /KK