A conference on "The energy efficiency of the building stock: basis of the sustainable energy transition" will be held today in Sofia

In Bulgaria, a new series of round tables is starting, related to the possibilities of financing sustainable energy and energy efficiency. The Ministry of Energy and the Center for Energy Efficiency "EnEfect", with the support of the "Renovate Bulgaria" Coalition, are organizing today the conference "Energy efficiency of the building stock: basis of the sustainable energy transition". It will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Intercontinental Hotel, Sofia. The Ministers of Energy and Environment and Water Rumen Radev and Julian Popov have been invited to participate. There will also be representatives of the regional ministry, municipalities and a number of other interested parties.

After the adoption of key amendments to the Law on Energy and the Law on Energy from Renewable Sources and the publication of the Draft Strategy for Sustainable Energy Development, in recent months active work has been done on updating the Integrated National Plan in the field of energy and climate, which is expected to set the specific targets for reducing energy consumption and limiting carbon emissions. An amendment to the Law on Energy Efficiency is currently being prepared, which will determine the structure, management and functioning of the National Decarbonization Fund - the main financial instrument in INPEC, which is expected to provide the necessary resources for policy implementation.

In view of the key role of building renovation in achieving national goals, the upcoming twelfth sustainable energy project financing round table will put on the agenda the topic of sector reforms that would make it possible to implement projects on a market-based basis. Issues of creating institutional capacity for integrated management of energy policies will also be addressed, which will allow the effective targeting of public resources in the areas with the greatest investment needs.

Following on from the discussions in the previous events, two of the key policy implementation tools will also be examined in detail: the concept of smart buildings and related certification tools, which are gaining importance for the banking sector, and professional building management funds, which preserves and increases their economic value.

Funds for the renovation of multi-family residential buildings, in addition to phases I and II of the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, are also provided for under several other programs, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Andrey Tsekov reminded at the beginning of last week. BGN 409 million will be allocated under the 2021-2027 Regional Development Program for energy efficiency of homes. Of these, BGN 63 million are for the ten largest municipalities - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, etc., and BGN 150 million will go to the smaller municipal centers. Another BGN 196 million is earmarked for the areas affected by the energy transition - Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik and their adjacent municipalities. The National Decarbonization Fund, as well as the Social Energy Fund, will also support energy efficiency measures for the housing stock.