site.btaSolar Photovoltaics' Contribution to Power Generation Up by 30%-Plus in May Y/Y

In May 2023, coal-fired power generation in Bulgaria slumped by 58% year-on-year, while the monthly contribution of solar photovoltaics increased by more than 30%. Photovoltaics  also had their highest ever share of power generation for several hours around noon in a single day. This led to another first for the Bulgarian electricity market - prices dropped to zero on May 20 and 21, a report on "Bulgaria: Energy Storage as a Catalyst for a Changing Power Sector" said. It is the latest White Paper prepared by Fluence, a market leader in energy storage products and services, and cloud-based software for renewables and storage assets, in collaboration with the Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE).

In 2022, 52.3% of generated electricity came from thermal power stations, and just 7% from solar and wind, the report recalls.

The drive for renewables in Bulgaria was largely prompted by the European Commission's push for more ambitious decarbonization and renewable targets. Integrating a higher share of renewables will ensure that Bulgaria will avoid losing billions of euro in EU funding. Also, high power prices due to the European energy crisis have prompted the market to turn to more economically competitive technologies.

Experts say there is a 35 GW pipeline of solar and wind projects requesting to join Bulgaria's grid. According to APSTE, in the last three years Bulgaria has practically doubled its photovoltaic installed capacity to 2.2 GW, with another 700 MW expected to become operational in 2023. In other words, Bulgaria could easily exceed its 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan target for photovoltaic installations nearly seven years early, the report says.

The report concludes that Bulgaria is just starting its energy transition. Wind and solar are highly cost-effective and can account for a much bigger share of Bulgaria's electricity mix. However, energy storage is required to facilitate a transformation to an intermittent system, enhancing grid stability and flexibility, while bringing benefits to the wider grid and its stakeholders.

The report lists peaking capacity, commercial and industrial applications, energy shifting, balancing, frequency response, and transmission infrastructure services as the key areas where storage can contribute. For instance, storage can provide a reliable source of power during peak demand periods on the Bulgarian grid. Also, production can be shifted to meet demand during peak periods and high prices. This can also prevent zero electricity prices on Bulgaria's wholesale electricity market due to overproduction.