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Wind Power News: Bulgaria
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Bulgaria’s financial intelligence: Mafia funds laundered through renewable energy companies
Renewable energy companies are a front for money laundering, according to a report of the Financial Intelligence Directorate of Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (DANS) for 2012. The report, as cited by Sega daily, draws attention to the return of pyramid/Ponzi schemes, adding that they have become more complicated and refined compared to the fraud schemes to which many Bulgarians fell victim in the 90s. According to DANS, renewable energy plants are used in money laundering schemes for a . . . Complete story »
Bulgaria pulls plug on wind power
The Bulgarian government has made good on threats to curtail power production from wind and solar plants. The decision follows a warning in March by interim energy minister Asen Vasilev that around 40% of wind and solar plants could potentially be curtailed. Vasilev claimed their failure to provide real-time data on production was threatening the stability of the system and made them non-compliant with the law. According to the Bulgarian Wind Energy Association (BGWEA), the country’s electricity system operator (ESO) . . . Complete story »
Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar power capacity
Bulgaria may suspend as much as 40 percent of wind and solar power capacity as part of its effort to stem oversupply and stabilize electricity generation About 40 percent of wind and solar power producers aren’t providing real-time information to the country’s central electricity dispatcher, jeopardizing the safety of Bulgaria’s transmission network, Energy Minister Asen Vasilev said in a document posted on the ministry’s website. They will be temporarily disconnected, he said. Bulgaria’s grid is suffering from power overloads caused . . . Complete story »
Court ruling threatens red-breasts
In January, the Bulgarian Court overturned a decision by the Bulgarian Minister of the Environment to revoke permission for a wind energy project threatening a high nature value area as well as the globally endangered bird species inhabiting it. The court ruling might lead to Bulgaria ending up in front of the EU Court of Justice. The case in question refers to the plans to construct 95 wind turbines close to Durankulak Lake – one of the most important wintering . . . Complete story »
Bulgarian wind assoc goes to court over FIT cut
The Bulgarian wind energy association (BGWEA) has gone to court to challenge energy regulator SEWRC’s recent decision to slash the feed-in tariff (FIT) for wind energy production by 22%. BGWEA said the SEWRC decision, which affects purchase prices for wind power in the year running from July 1, 2012, was “just too much” and had no basis in current market realities. BGWEA executive director Sebastian Noethlichs said its legal appeal was aimed at attaining better investment conditions in the country . . . Complete story »
Environment minister stops 2 wind farm projects in NE Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s Minister of Environment and Water has revoked two environmental impact assessments (EIA) issued by a regional inspectorate in the Black Sea city of Varna for the construction of two large wind farms in Dobrudzha. The decision issued by Nona Karadzhova was triggered by signals of the environmental organizations Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Green Balkans, which warned about the dangers resulting from the positioning of the wind farm propellers on bird migration routes. The . . . Complete story »
Bulgaria cuts preferential prices for renewable energy
Bulgaria’s energy regulator drastically cut guaranteed rates for electricity generated by wind and solar power parks on Friday on fears of soaring electricity prices, further unsettling renewable-energy developers in the Balkan country. The regulator cut by more than 50 percent the preferential feed-in tariff for the obligatory purchase of solar energy and by 22 percent the energy produced by wind power. The new tariffs come into effect from July 1 for solar and wind parks that will be connected until . . . Complete story »
Bulgaria may face court over EU nature protection laws
The European Commission continues with the next stage of infringement proceedings against Bulgaria because the country keeps neglecting the impact of wind turbines and other projects on the flora and fauna in protected areas of the Kaliakra peninsula. On the recommendation of Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik, the EC is sending a reasoned opinion to ask Bulgaria to comply with EU legislation in the sphere. According to a statement of the EC press office, if Bulgaria fails to do so within . . . Complete story »
Brussels warns Bulgaria over wind farms
The European Commission has sent the second and the last warning to Bulgaria about wind farms and other economic projects in the region of Cape Kaliakra. Brussels experts maintain that Bulgaria has not observed the requirements of the environmentalists and wind farms in the region are detrimental to wildlife. Bulgaria has one month to respond to the statement of Brussels otherwise the case will be referred to the European Court of Justice. “Bulgaria has undertaken a number of economic projects . . . Complete story »
New rules stop green energy boom
Investors in renewable energy will have to reconsider their business plans after the amendments to the Law on Energy from Renewable Sources entered into force, changing drastically the rules for adding green capacities to the electricity distribution network and obscuring deadlines for that, Capital Daily informs. In fact the changes will significantly slow down the development of energy from renewable sources in Bulgaria and hamper the achievement of the EU target of 20% renewable energy by 2020. The new law . . . Complete story »
