Governed by tensions: The introduction of renewable energies and their integration in the Bulgarian energy system (2006–2016)

Abstract

This paper examines the establishing a low-carbon electricity system through the introduction of Renewable Energies in Bulgaria – an EU member and a former Socialist state undergoing a vast socio-economic transformation over the last 29 years. Thus, the current introduction of RE is ambivalent. On the one hand, in just five years, a total of more than 1700 MW of new wind and photovoltaic plants were installed - almost as much as the country's nuclear capacity (2000 MW). On the other hand, after 2012, the RE development was stopped by means of several legislative amendments. Thus, governed by tensions, and recently experiencing a financial crisis in the energy sector, unintended new opportunities for RE occurred abroad. This could be a chance for “leapfrogging” pathway to low-carbon transition. Though a challenge still remain in the “state capture” processes in the Bulgarian politics.