Bulgaria imposes temporary cuts to renewable energy generation

• 11 years ago (2013-04-26)
• David Flin

Renewables 752

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Bulgaria’s power grid operator ESO has asked the country’s three electricity distribution companies to limit the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources in order to prevent the grid from overloading.

The electricity distribution companies – owned by Czech CEZ and Energo-Pro, as well as Austria’s EVN – were tasked with monitoring renewable energy production facilities, which were asked to operate at no more than 40 per cent of capacity. The measure was imposed because the warm and sunny weather could result in a spike of electricity generation by solar and wind power producers at a time when electricity consumption remains low, ESO said.

Although the restriction was a brief one – from 10am to 5pm on April 25 – it showed that the grid operator will first target renewable energy producers when ESO needs to limit electricity generation.

Earlier this month, ESO asked all electricity producers in the country to limit their power generation in order to prevent grid overload. It also asked the electricity distribution companies to disconnect 40 per cent of renewable energy producers from the grid. The only exception was hydropower plants, which were needed to work at full capacity to prevent dams from overflowing.