Bulgaria – Geothermal Update Report

Abstract

Bulgarian territory is rich in thermal water of temperature in the range of 20oC-100oC. Direct thermal water use nowadays is for balneology (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, bathing and swimming pools), space heating and air-conditioning, greenhouses, geothermal ground source heat pumps (GSHP), direct thermal water supply, bottling of potable water and soft drinks and for some other processes. The cultivation of microalgae and production of iodine paste and methane extraction have been terminated. Several applications - balneology and geothermal ground source heat pumps show more stable development at the present stage 2005-2010. Electricity generation from geothermal water is not currently available in the country.
The update information concerns mainly state-owned and only partially municipality-owned hydrothermal fields and is based on the existing permit and concession regime.
The installed capacity amounts to about 77,67 MW (excl.GSHP) and produced energy is 1083.89 TJ/yr. During this period geothermal energy used for heating of buildings and greenhouses considerably decrease, while ground source heat pumps marked a rapid development.
A great progress has been made in the state policy promoting electricity generation from renewable. Support mechanisms and feed-in conditions have been created. A new Law on Renewable, Alternative Sources and Biofuels was passed in 2007. According to the last amendments of Water Law taxes for thermal water application are conformable both to flow rate and water temperature of the source.