Power generated from Renewable Energy Sources (RES) accounted for 9.9 per cent of gross domestic power consumption in 2009, indicates a report by Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov on the implementation of the national indicative targets for consumption of RES power, presented to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

In 2008, RES power had a 7.3 per cent share in overall consumption. This represents a 26 per cent increase, while overall electricity consumption slumped by 4.5 per cent.

The national indicative target, set out in Bulgaria's EU accession treaty, states that RES power should make up 11 per cent of gross domestic energy consumption in 2011. RES power is generated from biomass, water, solar, geothermal and wind energy.

The report says that it could be achieved if certain conditions are met. These include drafting a strategic environmental assessment of RES development, a change in the statute of agricultural land on which RES facilities are built, and a link up of RES capabilities to the national grid on a priority basis.

In 2009, 221 MW wind power facilities were built.

Bulgaria's largest wind farm St Nikola (156 MW) started operating in late 2009. Installed capacity of photovoltaic facilities increased by 0.03 per cent to 5.7 MW between 2007 and 2009. Also operating are two biofuel cogenerators with an output of 1.9 GWh.

In 2009, RES-generated power was 3,711 GWh, or 8.7 per cent of gross electricity production.

RES power generators use several project-funding schemes: the Bulgarian Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Credit Line, a European Investment Bank energy efficiency program, the Operational Program for Competitiveness, the Rural Development Program, the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities, and the EC ELENA initiative.

Source: BTA