NEC plans to build energy storage batteries on its sites. Their total capacity will be 250 MWh

The National Electricity Company intends to build about with a capacity of about 250 MWh at various locations of its dams. This was stated by NEC executive director Martin Georgiev, who participated in this year's COP29 conference in Baku. The debut edition of the Green Energy Forum, organized by Dir.bg and 3eNews, was also held there. "We are ready to gain experience in this new field and are already in the process of developing additional capacities of up to 250 megawatt hours of energy storage batteries. They will be located on five NEC energy sites. And based on this initial experience with the pilot project, we will see how to adapt our investment plans in this perspective," Georgiev explained to the attendees.

NEC is already developing its pilot project for an energy storage system on the territory of the Vacha 1 HPP.

The indicative value of the order will be around 5 million. BGN, and the implementation of the project will last between 9 and 12 months.

The battery at this site has a planned storage capacity of 10 MWh.

The "Vacha 1" hydropower plant near Krichim is a derivation plant with an installed capacity of 14MW and is part of the lowest stage of the "Dospat-Vacha" hydropower cascade.

Last spring, its modernization was completed for 9.6 million. BGN, and the financing was taken over by the International Fund "Kozloduy" and funds of the National Electric Company. Nasko NEC also replaced key energy infrastructure, part of the Vacha 1 HPP facilities.

The Batak and Dospat HPP projects are moving to technical implementation

In parallel with the preparation of the new energy storage systems, NEC also begins technical negotiations on the construction of two new hydroelectric power plants at the Batak and Dospat dams. The facilities will be built underground and are expected to have a minimal impact on the environment.

"Sustainable development means that we must ensure that we meet our needs today without harming the ability of future generations to meet their needs tomorrow." And energy security and the availability of the necessary amounts of energy are a basic necessity in all societies," Georgiev reminded the participants of the forum.

He recalled that NEC is also focusing on the modernization and upgrading of existing hydroelectric assets. Developing pumped storage projects that use existing dams and reservoirs will also help minimize environmental and social impacts and increase the green energy capacity NEC holds.

The company works continuously with all environmental organizations and is strongly involved from the beginning of the process of considering all projects for new hydropower plants. In this way, the company will respond to environmentalists' concerns and ensure that projects are developed in a sustainable manner.

The next step for the projects for two new hydropower plants is for them to be supported by the European Investment Bank and to receive the status of projects of common European interest (PCI).