As a compromise, the deputies of the energy committee adopted the law on energy from RES in the first reading

With 12 votes "for", no "against" and 4 "abstentions", the Committee on Energy in the National Assembly adopted in the first reading changes to the Law on Energy from Renewable Sources, introduced by the Council of Ministers on April 13, 2023. The admission until the next however, the procedure was a compromise, as the leader of the commission and former chairman Delyan Dobrev (no new chairman has been elected yet) expressed dissatisfaction that the recommendations of the previous National Assembly were reflected in the introduced changes. It is envisaged that a working group will be created between the first and second reading to smooth out the texts in the bill.

According to the acting Deputy Minister of Energy, Iva Petrova, who presented the changes, several goals are achieved through the changes. In particular, they concern the transport of the European directive of 2001 to promote the use of energy from renewable energy sources (RES). The implementation of two reforms is also ensured - the first concerns the financing mechanism for energy efficiency and RES projects, and the second - stimulation of the production of electricity from RES under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, and the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) in the field are implemented of state aid related to an approved scheme to support the production of electricity from renewable energy sources.

In addition, the procedures for joining energy facilities for the production of electrical energy from renewable energy sources have been eased. The deadlines for issuing an opinion on accession have been shortened. In addition, there is no need to conclude a preliminary contract. The terms of the accession contracts are also being reduced, commented the acting Deputy Minister of Energy. Requirements are introduced for the guarantees of origin of energy from renewable energy sources in accordance with the application of a European standard. The possibility to issue guarantees of origin for RES gas and green hydrogen is being regulated. It is planned to increase the use of biofuels of a new generation, by increasing the volume percentage of these fuels when mixing them with fuels of petroleum origin. Higher sustainability criteria for reducing greenhouse gas emissions have been proposed. A tacit consent is also introduced for the issuance of a building permit for the installation of installations for the production of electric and thermal energy from the sun for own consumption with a total installed capacity of up to 50 kilowatts in buildings in urbanized areas, including on the roofs and facade structures of buildings and adjacent their land properties, Deputy Minister Petrova added.

In connection with the recommendations of the EC in the field of state aid, support through the purchase of electricity from renewable energy sources at preferential prices and long-term contracts for new sites with an installed capacity of up to 30 kilowatts, which are built on roof and facade structures of buildings connected to the electricity distribution network, is abolished and on real estate to them in urbanized areas. Changes have also been proposed to enable control and taking the necessary actions to fulfill the requirements for providing state aid to the recipients under the existing schemes. Deputy Minister Petrova reminded that the deadline for transposition of the requirements of the directive expired in June 2021. A reasoned opinion was sent to Bulgaria by the European Commission under the infringement procedure, Deputy Minister Petrova pointed out and justified the introduced changes with the Plan for recovery and Sustainability.

The members of the commission recommended that the texts be cleared in order to move forward successfully. Delyan Dobrev from GERB-SDS, for his part, stated that during the 48th National Assembly there were many criticisms of this bill, and the Ministry of Energy did not clear any of them. “Have you published this bill for public comment?” he asked. In addition, there are numerous negative opinions and he questioned whether they were taken into account by the Department of Energy. Dobrev also asked a question about the so-called "zoning" and asked from where to where the administration will determine zones in which to make investments in RES? According to him, a working group will be formed between the first and second reading, since "this bill is full of contradictions". Dobrev added that the amendments to this bill are currently undergoing first reading only because they are also related to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. However, if necessary, the deadline for its final adoption will be extended until the texts are fully cleared.

The Council of Ministers should prepare a report on the changes in the PVA

The deputies also adopted a draft decision (on the proposal of "Vazrazhdane") obliging the Council of Ministers to prepare a report on the changes in the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. The deadline for providing the report is 10 working days. The claim is related to the implementation of the Decision of the National Assembly to oblige the government to change the Recovery and Sustainability Plan in the energy sector. Now the deputies from the energy committee want clarity on exactly what the proposed amendments are, which are being negotiated with the EC.

The former minister of energy Temenuzka Petkova and current deputy from "GERB-SDS" expressed agreement with the draft decision. At the same time, she asked whether the deadline for negotiations on changes to the Recovery and Sustainability Plan has already expired and what follows from this. In addition, Petkova requested that information be given in the report about the new company created in BEH, which will deal with the construction of photovoltaic installations in the "Maritsa East" complex. "As far as we know from public information, there is some road map that the land will be provided free of charge. It will be helpful to have clarity,” she said. According to her, the report should note what this company is doing in the situation that nothing has been renegotiated, but her colleague Delyan Dobrev suggested that they only provide information from the ministry, and then request additional information.