Country Update for Bulgaria (2007-2012)

Abstract

A slow trend of increase of the total primary energy production and of the share of renewable energy in the gross final energy consumption has been observed in the past several years in Bulgaria. Thermal water application by category is compared for the periods (2001-2006) and (2007-2012) and the main legislative and financial factors controlling this activity are discussed. Currently, the balneology and thermal water supply for the regions with no alternative water sources are the leading applications. Bottling of mineral water remained almost constant for the two periods. The share of space heating and greenhouses is rather small for both periods. Oldest and out of date direct heating systems have been gradually closed and only several small demonstration projects were built. According to the information published in the Internet sites of Bulgarian companies involved in geothermal business many systems assisted by ground source heat pumps have been constructed. At present, no summary for their total installed capacity is officially available.