Solar power generated 12% of Bulgaria’s electricity in 2023.[1]
By the end of 2020 about 1 GW of solar PV had been installed.[2] It has been estimated that there is potential for at least another 4 GW by 2030.[3]
On March 13, 2023, peak photovoltaics power was 30% of Bulgaria electricity generation. However, long-term share of solar power is much lower. Director of Bulgarian transmission network estimated photovoltaics growth as 30% in 2022, also he expects 700 MW new solar capacity in 2023, which could represent 30-40% YoY growth.
In April 2023 Bulgaria's Inercom signed contract with Huasun for supply of 1.5GW solar modules.
History
Solar power in Bulgaria has expanded by 100 megawatts (MW) in 2011. A 16.2 MW solar power plant in Zdravetz, Bulgaria was expected to be completed in June 2012, with power being sold for $0.30/kWh in a fixed rate 20 year power purchase agreement.[4]
Since then, however, new installations have nearly come to a halt with only about 12 MW of additional capacity installed during 2013 and 2014.
| Year | Photovoltaics | |
|---|---|---|
| MWp | GWh | |
| 2008 | 1.4 | |
| 2009 | 5.7 | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 35 | 15 |
| 2011 | 141 | 120 |
| 2012 | 1,010 | n.a. |
| 2013 | 1,020 | 1,349 |
| 2014 | 1,022 | 1,245 |
| 2015[5] | 1,041 | 1,391 |
| 2016[6] | 1,043 | 1,392 |
| 2017[7] | 1,046 | 1,408 |
| 2018[8] | 1,052 | 1,381 |
| 2019[9] | 1,059 | 1,252 |
| 2020[10] | 1,121 | 1,478 |
| 2021[11] | 1,246 | 1,488 |
| 2022 [1] | 1,948 | |
| Source: IEA-PVPS/EPIA for capacity,[12] Photovoltaic Barometerfor generation,[13] previous[14][15][16][17] | ||
Current and upcoming projects
| PV Power station | Location | Capacity in MWp | Commissioning | Notes/Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karadzhalovo Solar Park | Karadzhalovo | 60 | 2012 | |
| Pobeda Solar Park | Pleven Province | 51 | 2012 | |
| Verila Solar 1 | Dupnitsa Municipality | 124 | 2023 | [2] |
| Bobov Dol Solar Park | Golemo Selo | 100 | 2024 | [3] |
| Kyustendil | Kyustendil | More than 100 | Concept stage | [4] |
| Ogosta floating solar park | Ogosta Reservoir | 500 to 800 | Concept stage | [5] |
| Verila Solar 2 | Dupnitsa Municipality | 50 | 2023 | [6] |
| Chirpan solar power plant | Chirpan | 160 | 2024 | [7] |
| Dalgo Pole PV park (Phase 1,2,3) | Kaloyanovo Municipality | 208 | 2023 | [8][9] |
| Knizhovnik Solar PV Park | Haskovo Province | 400 | Concept stage | [10][11][12] |
| Tenevo solar power plant | Yambol Province | 238 | 2025 | [13][14] |
| Apriltsi Photovoltaic Park | Pazardzhik Province | 300 | 2023 | [15] |
| Galabovo Solar PV Park | Galabovo | 150 | 2023 | [16][17] |
| Terasol Solar Park | Stara Zagora Province | 116 | 2023 | [18] |
| Ravnets PV Solar + Hydrogen Park | Ravnets Air Base | 120 | Concept stage | [19] |
| "Golf" PV Park | Sliven Municipality | 40 | 2023 | [20] |
| Winslow PV Park | Malko Tarnovo | 36 | 2023 | [21] |
| Gabare PV Park | Byala Slatina Municipality | 450 | Concept stage | [22] |
| Aratiden PV Park | Kyustendil | 100 | 2024 | [23] |
| Saint George solar park | Silistra Province | 229 | 2024 | [24] |
| Hadjidimitrovo-Kronos | Kazanlak | 80 | 2024 | [25] |
| Belozem Solar Park 2 | Stara Zagora Province | 100 | 2024 | [26] |
| Tsenovo Solar | Tsenovo, Ruse Province | 80 | 2025 | [27] |
