Bulgaria Has Strong Potential to Become Regional Electricity Market Leader, Says Energy System Operator CEO

Tatiana Marinova

Energy System Operator CEO Angelin Tsachev at a round table on accelerated energy transition, policies and innovations for sustainable development by 2040, Sofia, September 30, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)

Sofia,

30.09.2025 18:41

(BTA)

Bulgaria has significant potential to become regional electricity market leader, leveraging cross-border capacity, energy storage systems, and major renewable energy generation opportunities, Energy System Operator (ESO) CEO Angelin Tsachev said Tuesday. He was speaking at a roundtable on accelerated energy transition, policies and innovations for sustainable development by 2040, organized by the Centre for the Study of Democracy.

Tsachev said that ESO is working on investment projects to improve and expand the country’s interconnection and cross-border capacity from the current 6,000 MW to between 12,000 and 15,000 MW by 2032. He noted that with the energy corridors launched by ESO, East-West and North-South, all energy flows in Southeastern Europe are expected to converge in Bulgaria.

According to Tsachev, the national transmission network is being developed to make up for past delays, with ESO aiming to stay “half a step ahead of investors.” Key projects include investments in 110 kV and medium-voltage substations, as well as the Greenabler project, reconstructing the transmission network to integrate 4.5 GW of planned renewable energy under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and the Carmen project, which will enable connection of nearly 3,000 MW of wind capacity in northeastern Bulgaria.

Tsachev said he does not expect energy consumption in the country to decline by 2040. He also described as unfeasible, from a system security perspective, any scenario calling for the removal of coal-fired power plants from the generation mix by 2030.

/DS/