Investors in electricity storage facilities will pay a deposit of BGN 50,000 for each megawatt of capacity to be connected to the electricity transmission or distribution grids. In this way, opportunities for abuse in the energy sector are prevented and real investor interest in storing renewable energy is encouraged.
The measure is part of the amendments and supplements to Regulation No. 6 on the connection of energy facilities to the electricity grid, which were finally adopted by the EWRC at a meeting on 26 September 2024. The amendments to the normative act are related to the elimination of potential problems for the implementation of the ReStore project financed with BGN 1.2 billion under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. The project involves the construction of 3,000 MWh of electricity storage batteries.
By paying a deposit of BGN 50,000 for each megawatt, obstacles are created for speculative retention of capacity in the grids by persons with no real investor interest, who aim only at blocking capacity for connection to the grids, which can then be transferred to real investors for a fee. The amount will be payable upon receipt of a statement from the network operator for the connection of the electricity storage facility and may be either a bank guarantee or a cash deposit. If within three months of the issuance of the statement, the investor fails to deposit the requested amount, the statement becomes invalid. Upon connection of the site, the guarantee will be refunded to the investor company. If the investor has not applied for a pre-connection contract, the network operator will deduct from the guarantee the costs incurred to provide the site with access to the energy system.
The provision of a guarantee in the connection procedures creates a more favourable and predictable environment and conditions for investments in electricity storage facilities and protects the rights and interests of bona fide investors.
The amendments to the Regulation facilitate the procedure for examining the conditions and the method of connection of renewable energy production facilities, taking into account the specificities of the construction of this type of facilities. The relations between the persons requesting the study and/or the connection of the sites and the grid operators, as well as between the grid operators themselves, are regulated. The deadlines for the preparation of environmental assessments of projects are extended.
Following the decision of the EWRC on the adoption of amendments and supplements to Regulation No 6, the legal act will be sent for promulgation in the Official Gazette.
Source: EWRC
