According to the Bulgarian Photovoltaic Association and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria's solar power segment could attract EUR 300 million in foreign and local direct investments, while installed photovoltaic capacity could reach 100 MW in 2011.
The forecasts of the entities are feasible provided that the new law on renewable energy resources erases some administrative hurdles to investors.
According to industry representatives, the country has only 15 MW of solar energy capacity, since the cumbersome procedures for hooking solar plants to the grid curbs some of the projects' development, according to data announced at an energy conference in Sofia.
The reason behind the segment's attractiveness is the fact that existing legislation requires power distributors to purchase green power at preferential rates, as well as the reduced costs of solar panels.
According to BPvA figures, prices of solar modules have dropped by an average 6% to 8% over the past years, going down by almost a third in 2009 alone.
Mr Nikola Gazdov chairman of BPvA said that "Of course, that will reduce the purchase price of electricity from new plants."
Currently, the tariff for solar power, fixed by the country's regulator, stands at BGL 0.82 per kWh for power stations rated up to 5 kW and BGL 0.76 for larger projects.
Under the country's clean energy development plan, which was sent by the Economy Ministry to the European Commission in the summer of 2010 without the necessary environment impact assessment and government approval, Bulgaria should develop 300 MW of solar plants by 2020.
Source: Steel Guru
No comments:
Post a Comment