site.btaBulgarians Welcome Investments in Renewable Energy, Greenpeace Bulgaria Study Says

Bulgaria should make renewable energy its top investment priority, according to data from a survey on public attitudes and government policies in the country’s energy sector, Greenpeace Bulgaria said in a press release.

The study was conducted by Policy Solutions in partnership with the Ipsos market research company for Greenpeace Bulgaria between November 27 and December 4, 2025. It surveyed 1,000 respondents through an online questionnaire.

According to the results, 32% of respondents believe Bulgaria should prioritize investments in renewable energy, while 25% point to energy efficiency and energy saving as the main focus. The survey also shows strong public support for the energy transition, with 65% backing a transition by 2035. Bulgarians also express broad approval of energy communities: 78% of respondents support the idea of the government encouraging the creation of such cooperative initiatives.

“Unfortunately, public attitudes rarely align with the decisions of those in power,” Meglena Antonova, Director of Greenpeace Bulgaria said. She added that energy communities and household solar installations in Bulgaria are being developed through citizens’ own initiatives rather than as a result of state policy. In her view, the current environment in Bulgaria is not welcoming to such grassroots energy initiatives.

Greenpeace Bulgaria further points out that attitudes toward fossil fuel projects are overwhelmingly negative. Only 4% of respondents would prefer investments in oil and gas, and just 2% support investments in coal. Support for nuclear energy remains relatively high at 31%, despite the associated risks and high investment costs, the organization said.

According to 64% of those surveyed, the use of fossil fuels exacerbates extreme weather events, 61% believe that fossil fuel companies should be held accountable for the damage they cause to nature and the climate.

The environmental organization stresses that these public attitudes are at odds with current government policy. As an example, it cites the decision by the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) to participate in oil and gas exploration projects in the Khan Asparuh Block in the Black Sea.

An agreement for state participation through BEH for oil and natural gas exploration in the Khan Asparuh Block was signed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers, in the presence of outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and outgoing Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov.