NEC is considering a pilot project to build batteries at its hydroelectric power plants with the aim of greater efficiency

The National Electric Company (NEC) is considering a pilot project for energy storage at the company's hydroelectric power plants (HPP), it became clear from the words of executive director Martin Georgiev within the framework of the RE-Source conference, which is being held in Sofia.

"Fortunately, over the past 12 months we have been moving very well with the restoration of the HPP Chair. The works are being carried out by international experts in this field and we expect by the end of the year one of the 200MW units will be operational and the other one is about a year away from the next steps, which will be quite an important development for us.

In parallel with this, projects for additional capacity are also being worked on," said Martin Georgiev.

In his words, given the fact that NEC has good competences in relation to hydroelectric plants, a pilot project for energy storage (batteries) is being developed on site, in the hydroelectric power plant, "to complement the two technologies and of course to there is an effective connection is the network'. For now, given the early stage of such an idea, no further details were given.

Martin Georgiev also focused on the projects for the two new HPP, explaining that they are in the process of preparation. The implementation process itself is expected to take between 8 and 10 years "with good planning by the supporting institutions", he specified.

The intentions for the construction projects of Batak HPP and Dospat HPP were announced last year. For both HPP, the upper equalizer is the Golyam Beglik and Shiroka polyana dams, and for the lower equalizer, installed capacities in generator mode between 800 MW for each of them and approximately 700 MW in the pump are considered. In the Batak HPP project, the lower leveler is the Batak dam, and in the Dospat HPP project, the Dospat dam.

"So, these two big projects, if developed, according to current expectations, and also according to inclusion for economic feasibility, the starting capacity should be available between 2030 - 2032 years," Georgiev said. As an advantage of the two projects, the executive director of NEC identified the constructed dams and facilities, including the dam walls, "which is one of the expensive elements in the investment plan."

Commenting on the success of the projects, attention was drawn to the fact that this requires maximum good management and stability of the electricity network.