TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICITY IN BULGARIA

Abstract

The paper presents technical and economic data on the development of photovoltaic electricity in Bulgaria over the last 10 years. The mix of different types of conventional and renewable energy sources in the country's electricity system is shown. The changes in the installed photovoltaic capacities and the price of electricity generated by them for the studied period are shown in tabular and graphical form. The number of photovoltaic power plants and their distribution by groups of individual powers are given. Brief technical and economic data for some of the largest photovoltaic power plants in Bulgaria are provided. Data analysis shows a short period of rapid development of highcapacity photovoltaic power plants construction after the introduction of high feed-in tariff for the purchase of photovoltaic electricity, as well as the influence of the installed photovoltaic capacities on the market change of the feed-in tariff over time. Feed-in tariff cost decreases remarkably with the increase of the installed photovoltaic capacity and even shows removal tendency for larger-capacity photovoltaic power plants. Examples of the economic profitability of grid-connected and autonomous photovoltaic systems in Bulgaria are given. The analysis and conclusions of the paper could be useful in determining new government policies and setting new market conditions to promote the development of renewable energy sources in Bulgaria and other countries.

Keywords: photovoltaic electricity; electricity market; feed-in tariff; economic
profitability; Bulgaria.