Bulgaria terminates incentives for new renewable energy installations

February 27, 2015
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Bulgaria's parliament decided to terminate preferential prices for renewable energy installations on Thursday.

The country, the poorest in the European Union, is struggling with deficits in the energy sector, and consumers’ utility bills are high.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Photovoltaic solar farms and wind farms picked up momentum in 2011 when Bulgaria began giving subsidies for renewable energy, which it guaranteed for 20 years. They also committed to buying the energy produced by these farms. Since then, the cost has been growing. Bulgaria met its 2020 target for 16% share of renewable energy at the end of 2013.

The incentives that have been given to the plants that are already running will still be in place.

NEK, the public power provider, according to these amendments, will not be required to purchase power at the preferential prices from heating plants that cannot prove they are energy efficient.

Various factors including the rise of renewable energy, the offered incentives, and high costs for long-term power purchase agreements have caused NEK’s deficit to reach 3.3 billion levs (US$1.89 billion).

Parliament also approved more independance for the energy regulator increasingly and to have its members elected by parliament and not the government.  

Read Next

October 22, 2025
Leeward Renewable Energy has started commercial operations at its 177MW Ridgely solar project in the US state of Tennessee.
October 22, 2025
Utility giant Engie has signed a 15-year renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with tech giant Apple in Italy.
October 22, 2025
US thin-film manufacturer First has revealed another transfer of its 45X manufacturing tax credits in a deal worth around US$750 million.
October 22, 2025
Abigail Ross Hopper, the president and CEO of US trade association the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), has decided to step down from her roles at the end of January 2026.
October 22, 2025
Ingeteam’s Mauro Rivola discusses the rapidly growing appetite for co-located solar and storage in Southern Europe.
October 22, 2025
The Queensland government has launched the Social Licence in Renewable Energy Toolkit, providing local councils in Australia with resources to navigate renewable energy project engagement and community consultation processes.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany