At the Miner's House in Pernik, the state explained what green projects will be developed and how coal will remain a thing of the past

"It is important to talk not only about the challenges of the transition, but also about the opportunities it provides. The Ministry of Energy has a key role in the planned projects under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as in the reforms embedded in it." Deputy Minister of Energy Krasimir Nenov said this at the first public event within the framework of the European project "Transition of Opportunities". The aim of the project is to publicize the contribution of European cohesion policies, the Just Transition Fund and the European Recovery Plan to ensuring a smooth and fair transition to a climate-neutral economy of the Bulgarian regions that will be most affected by the transformation.

The "Transition of Opportunities - Pernik" conference was held at the Miner's House in the city. The organizer of the event is the media publisher "Brand Media Bulgaria" EOOD, the Ministry of Energy announced.

Among the participants were the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Angelina Boneva, representatives of the local government, management bodies under operational programs, as well as local business, trade unions and other interested parties.

"I thank the local community and business for the constructive approach in recent months, which made it possible, thanks to the trust created between us, to be able to protect the Territorial Plans for a just transition," Deputy Minister Nenov also said. He highlighted the key role of the Just Transition Fund, which addresses the effects of the transition and supports a smooth and successful transformation. "A lot of work still needs to be done in various directions, especially measures aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises in the region," noted Krasimir Nenov. According to him, these measures are extremely important because they will improve energy efficiency and make businesses more competitive, they will enable homes to be cozier and children to live in a cleaner environment.

The experts from the Ministry of Energy Hristina Stoichkova, Iveta Filipova and Alexandrina Dimitrova also participated in the event, who presented various possibilities for financing energy efficiency measures and modernization both in industry and in the home.

These include a geothermal combined heat and power pilot project, support for new renewable power generation and power storage capacity, and national renewable power storage infrastructure.

Through the Household Renewable Energy Support, it is expected that at least 10,000 households with inefficient solid fuel heat sources will be supported to install the best equipment for solar domestic hot water installations and photovoltaic systems up to 10 kWp, including systems for storing electrical energy. The total budget is BGN 240 million.

The project for energy-efficient street lighting systems will contribute to increasing energy efficiency and improving the living conditions of the population.

The investment for pilot projects for the production of green hydrogen, with a total budget of BGN 120 million, will contribute to the decarbonization of the Bulgarian energy sector, and the support for new capacities for the production of electricity from renewable sources and for the storage of electricity - for the increase of shares of clean energy in Bulgaria's energy mix on the way to climate neutrality. This will happen by helping to build and integrate into the electricity grid a new additional 1,425 MW of generating capacity along with 350 MW of local electricity storage facilities. The total amount of grant funding under the Recovery and Sustainability Mechanism is BGN 663.4 million.

With the implementation of the pilot project for the combined production of heat and electricity from geothermal sources, such a plant will be built with grants. A little over BGN 343 million have been set aside for this purpose.

The discussion also highlighted the construction and commissioning of a national infrastructure of electricity storage facilities with 3,000 MWh of usable energy capacity at the power grid level. The financing is 100% of the PVA in the amount of BGN 781 million.