Environmental research

Justification The electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES) will play an important role in reaching Bulgaria s target of 16% RES share of in the final energy consumption by 2020. The Bulgarian regulatory policy supports this process, but nevertheless there are substantial legislative, regulatory, economic and technical difficulties, creating tension among the investors, the grid, and the consumers and this delays the development of RES-e. Location Most project activities will take place in Sofia. The project results concern the whole country. Project Target Groups The project target groups are the institutions that define and implement the energy and environmental policies in Bulgaria, investors, electrical companies, and consumers. Goal and expected impacts The project goal is to accelerate and make more sustainable RES-e utilization in Bulgaria, through identification of an appropriate regulatory policy. The project results, incorporated in the regulatory framework, would contribute to a regulatory climate for sustainable RES-e development and attraction of investors. Objectives and expected results The concrete project objectives are: (1) to develop scenarios for RES-e penetration; and (2) to elaborate regulatory strategies for sustainable RES-e development. It is expected that the regulatory policy, proposed by the project, would result in a balanced development of RES-e, taking into account the country s environmental commitments and the economy capabilities. Major activities The major project activities include: project management, collection of information about the RES-e technical potential; selection of scenarios, scenario modeling with minimal cost, results assessment and development of recommendation, and dissemination of results. Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects The project will collaborate with GEF SGP projects 57, 80, and 121. Sustainability The sensitivity of the scenarios to the strategic factors will enable the Regulator to identify the appropriate decisions for support of RES-e to reach the 2020 target. The model will serve for regular update (every 2 years) of the scenarios and the respective regulatory decisions

Bulgaria