NEK intends to invest in two floating solar power and two pumped storage hydropower plants and battery energy storage projects Contact online >>
NEK intends to invest in two floating solar power and two pumped storage hydropower plants and battery energy storage projects
The national electricity system is increasingly facing periods of lots of excess electricity and shortages. It highlights the balancing issue in Bulgaria and the need for energy storage, but the projects are slow, Capital reported. Government-controlled electricity producer NEK is betting on pumped storage hydropower.
The country hosts the largest so-called water battery in the Balkans, the Chaira facility. The pumped storage hydropower plant has been offline for two years after a series of breakdowns and failed repair attempts.
A tender is ongoing for the reconstruction of the fourth unit, out of four in total. The utility valued the project at EUR 27.3 million. Most of its hydropower projects didn’t reach the financing phase.
The trouble with the renewal of Chaira is not so much in financing as in finding experts, technicials and engineers, the media outlet pointed out. It added that a significant number of European specialists are in Asia and Africa, handling the boom of such projects.
Another investment, under development for several years, is for the construction of the Yadenitsa dam between Belovo and Yundola. The facility would be part of the Belmeken-Sestrimo-Chaira cascade and lift the pumped storage hydropower plant’s operating capacity.
NEK is also leaning on hydroelectric plants with dams to store energy as water, Executive Director Martin Georgiev said. In addition, the company is developing a pilot battery storage project at the Vacha hydropower plant, he revealed.
The two planned underground pumped storage hydropower plants at the Dospat and Batak dams will have 800 MW to 1 GW each in capacity, NEK’s chief said. He stressed that the utility would seek EUR 150 million from the REPowerEU scheme for feasibility studies and other activities.
Total storage capacity of the two future facilities, at existing dams, amounts to 3.05 TWh, according to the Bulgarian news website.
However, Georgiev stressed that the technology isn’t regulated in Bulgaria.
Of note, German company Profine Energy has proposed to install a floating solar power plant of 500 MW to 800 MW on the Ogosta artificial lake in northwestern Bulgaria. Initially, it considered as much as 1.5 GW.
NEK owns 31 hydroelectric systems, with an overall capacity of 2.74 GW. According to the report, there are delays in maintenance and modernization projects.
Be the first one to comment on this article.
29 November 2024 - Power grid bottlenecks could jeopardize connecting new power plants to the system but also the operation of the ones already online
29 November 2024 - The National Assembly in Belgrade passed the Energy Sector Development Strategy of Serbia up to 2040 with Projections up to 2050
28 November 2024 - The European Union wants to maintain the rapid pace of decarbonization while enabling affordable energy prices
About Bulgaria backup power
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Bulgaria backup power have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Bulgaria backup power for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Bulgaria backup power featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
