The electricity system operator has launched the feasibility study for the construction of the East-West energy corridor

After the signing of the agreement with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) for grant funding of the studies for the construction of a new energy corridor that would connect the electricity transmission networks of Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro, with possibility of reaching Italy, ESO EAD signed a contract for the implementation of the feasibility study with the American consulting company Black & Veatch Management Consulting, LLC.

The consulting company will carry out an economic and technical analysis of the current state of the electricity transmission infrastructure in Bulgaria, will assess the need for network development and will study the possibilities for realizing the plan of the Bulgarian transmission operator to increase the cross-border capacity by no less than 2000 MW for the transmission of electrical energy at the borders with neighboring countries, which will contribute to the more efficient utilization of the green energy produced on the Balkan Peninsula.

The possibilities for building two new PSHP on the "Batak" and "Dospat" dams and connecting them to the country's power grid will also be analyzed.

To carry out the study of the East-West energy corridor, ESO EAD attracted an investment of over 1,500,000 US dollars. The aim of the East-West Energy Corridor project is to improve cross-border transmission capacity and the network's ability to exchange real-time electricity produced from renewable sources in the region. The implementation of the project will contribute to the improvement of the electricity transmission infrastructure and energy security in the countries of South-Eastern Europe.