A new energy strategy of Bulgaria until the year 2053 is based on the continued operation of coal-fired power plants until 2030, on nuclear energy, several projects in the fields of photovoltaic and wind energy, the use of geothermal energy for local heating systems and batteries for storage of electricity.

This strategy was launched on Tuesday in the debate at a round table organized in Sofia, attended by the President Rumen Radev, the Prime Minister Galab Donev and the Minister of Energy, Rossen Hristov.

Among the strategic objectives for the development of the energy sector, mentioned in the document, are ensuring the energy security of the country and the region and preserving Bulgaria’s role as a leader in energy, protecting national security and economic interests, achieving the decarbonization objectives set at the EU level, increasing energy efficiency , carrying out a just transition in the affected regions and protecting against energy poverty, according to Agerpres.

In the coal-based electricity generation sector, the strategy foresees the use of current capacities until 2030, to ensure energy security and the introduction of technical solutions to reduce emissions.

In the nuclear energy sector, the strategy foresees the construction of new capacities of 2,000 megawatts at the Belene plant until 2035-2040, as well as the construction of replacement capacities of 2,000 megawatts at the Kozlodui plant, until 2045.

It is also envisaged to build 7 GW of photovoltaic capacities and 2 GW of wind capacities by 2030 and 12 GW of photovoltaic capacities and 4 GW of wind capacities by 2050. New hydropower projects with a capacity of 870 MW are planned until 2030 and 1,270 MW until 2050. In the field of geothermal energy, access is based on the efficiency of local heating systems. Moreover, the strategy provides for the construction of electrolysis facilities with a capacity of 1 GW by 2030 and 5 GW by 2050 for domestic consumption and export.

In the field of energy storage, the strategy foresees the expansion of the pumped-storage hydropower plant from Chaira, until 2030, and the construction of new pumped-storage hydropower plants, with a capacity of 1 GW until 2035, the introduction of storage capacities in batteries of 600 MW by 2030 and seasonal storage systems of 1.5 GW by 2050. The strategy also provides for the modernization and construction of new transmission lines with a length of 1,900 kilometers, the digitization and development of the distribution network and the construction of 1,000 electric vehicle charging stations by 2030.