Renewable energy policy database and support

• Connection requirements. Plants must be situated on the premises of the plant operator and comply with the technical and safety requirements and the conditions specified in the connection agreement (art. 116 par. 1 Energy Act).
• Application. The plant operator shall apply to the grid operator for connection (art. 23 par. 1 ERSA). Having submitted the application for connection, the applicant shall provide a guarantee of BGN 5,000 (approx. € 2,550) per MW of the planned capacity to the plant operator as an advance payment for the connection costs (art. 23 par. 8 ERSA). This regulation does not apply to renewable energy projects with an installed capacity up to 30 kW connected to the distribution grid, installations with a capacity of up to 200 kW, which are built on roof or facade constructions of buildings for production and storage activities and connected to the electricity transmission or distribution network in urbanised territories, installations with indirect use of biomass from animal substances with installed capacity up to 1.5 MW, for which the total weight manure is not less than 60% as well as power plants working with indirect use of biomass from plant substances from own agricultural production, which are built in urban areas, agricultural sited or production areas with a capacity up to 500 kW (art. 24 ERSA).
• Preliminary agreement. If the plant operator meets all connection requirements, a preliminary agreement shall be concluded (art. 29 par. 1 ERSA). When entering into a preliminary agreement, the plant operator shall make another advance payment of either BGN 25,000 (approx. € 12,750) per MW if the capacity of his plant does not exceed 5 MW or BGN 50,000 (approx. € 25,500) per MW if the capacity does exceed 5 MW (art. 29 par. 1 ERSA).
• Agreement. After project completion, the plant operator shall enter into a connection agreement with either the transmission or the distribution grid operator. The connection agreement shall specify the price for connection (art. 116 par. 1 Energy Act).
• Monitoring. The regulatory authority shall ensure compliance with the obligation to give priority to the connection of renewable energy plants and with the contractual terms (art. 76 par. 4 Energy Act). The grid operator is obliged to pay a penalty charge in the amount of BGN 20,000 to BGN 30,000 (approx. € 10,200–15,300) if he does not give priority to the connection of a plant without due reason (art. 60 ERSA).

The grid operator is not obliged to connect a renewable energy plant if he can prove that grid capacity is insufficient or that the security of supply is at risk (art. 119 par. 3 and 4 Energy Act).

From 1 July 2012, the grid operators are obliged to grant access only if the annual grid capacity limits have not yet been reached. These capacity limits are set annually by the regulatory authority in pursuance of the NREAP between 1 January and 30 June and will come into effect every year on 1 July (art. 22 par. 5 ERSA).

The capacity limits do not apply to renewable energy projects with an installed capacity up to 30 kW connected to the distribution grid, installations with a capacity of up to 200 kW, which are built on roof or facade constructions of buildings for production and storage activities and connected to the electricity transmission or distribution network in urbanized territories, installations with indirect use of biomass from animal substances with installed capacity up to 1.5 MW, for which the total weight manure is not less than 60% as well as power plants working with indirect use of biomass from plant substances from own agricultural production, which are build in urban areas, agricultural sited or production areas with a capacity up to 500 kW (art. 24 ERSA).

The grid operator is obliged to inform the plant operator on the expected level of power consumption, transmission grid limitations, balancing electricity prices in prior periods and other details as required (art. 111 par. 1 item 8 Energy Act).