USTDA to aid in Bulgarian transmission expansion

Bulgaria’s state-owned electricity transmission company, Elektroenergien Sistemen Operator EAD (ESO), has signed an agreement with the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to advance new transmission infrastructure for cross-border export capacity.

According to the partners in a release, the new transmission infrastructure will ease the integration of new renewable energy sources and increase ESO’s capacity to export electricity to Bulgaria’s neighbours.

USTDA will provide grant funding for a feasibility study to assess the expansion of Bulgaria’s transmission grid, with the goal of increasing cross-border capacity by 2,000MW at each of its borders with Greece, North Macedonia, Romania and Türkiye.

In addition to increasing export capacity, the project will ease the introduction of new renewable power onto Bulgaria’s grid and facilitate its transmission without impacting the grid’s stability.

Commenting in a release was USTDA director Enoh T. Ebong: “This partnership with ESO will further Bulgaria’s renewable energy, climate and economic ambitions and catalyse benefits across Europe.”

“By leveraging US technologies, USTDA’s engagement will help mitigate the climate crisis by supporting Bulgaria’s goals of decarbonising its power sector and providing additional capacity for renewable energy resources.”

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Bulgaria seeks to decarbonise its power sector through the phaseout of coal-fired power plants and the deployment of renewable energy resources.

The added transmission capacity will facilitate the deployment of renewable resources ahead of decommissioning existing coal-fired power plants.

Said Angelin Tsachev, CEO of ESO: “I am grateful for the active collaboration between ESO and the US Trade and Development Agency in the recent months; it led to today’s signing of the agreement for grant funding of the feasibility study of the East-West Energy Corridor.”

“The implementation of the project is key to achieving the objectives of decarbonisation and increasing cross-border grid capacity for the transmission of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. Meetings held with the electricity transmission operators of Türkiye, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro have confirmed the viability of the project.”

US ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten welcomed the feasibility study, saying: “This project will help improve system efficiency, reduce costs for consumers and companies, support integration of renewable-energy generation and distribution, and help lower carbon and other emissions. It is an important step towards a greener future for Bulgaria and the region.”